CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF AFRICAN WILDLIFE
DATES: May 24, 2024 - June 7, 2024 (must be in country by May 26, 2023).
In South Africa, wildlife management is privatized. Wildlife are frequently bought and sold, requiring intensive hands-on management. There is no place in the U.S. or in most African countries where students can experience and learn techniques of wildlife capture at the rate and intensity of the experience in South Africa. Additionally, South Africa has good transportation, communication and medical infrastructure, and most educated people speak English. This is the single best course a student can take to prepare them for veterinary professional schools or zoo work with wild, exotic animals.
Click here to watch a video about the experience.
PROGRAM LEADERS
Dr. Michael Stokes (michael.stokes@wku.edu)
COURSES
BIO 485 Field Biology African Wildlife Management (3 credits)
Prerequisites: BIO 224 or ANSC 140 or equivalent
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
This is a skills-based course for students in relevant careers, including veterinary medicine, ecology and wildlife biology. The goals are to learn and apply:
- basic field safety when working with wildlife
- principles and practices of wildlife capture
- principles and practices of wildlife immobilization
- principles and practices of wildlife handling
- principles and practices of temporary housing of wildlife
- principles and practices of wildlife translocation
- theory and practice of wildlife conservation in South Africa and the US
ELIGIBILITY
Permission of instructor(s) is required.- Student must be in good academic standing.
- Student must have a minimum GPA of 2.0.
- Current WKU students eligible to register for WKU courses may apply. Students from outside WKU may participate as visiting students.
- Students must be 18 years of age or older at time of departure.
- Students must possess a passport valid for at least six (6) months after return date.
- Students must be free of active disciplinary sanctions as verified by the Office of Student Conduct.
- Students who become ineligible to attend the program after applying due to disciplinary sanctions will be subject to standard program cost penalty rates. Students are responsible for notifying the Office of Study Abroad & Global Learning when they become aware of this ineligibility.
- Student must have no life-threatening allergies or conditions that would be problematic if prescriptions are unavailable.
- Students must complete all pre-departure orientations.
- Full payment is due prior to date of departure.
- Students must complete the Study Abroad & Global Learning application process prior to being registered in this course. We suggest you start this application process immediately and respond to all emails promptly
Click on Program Details for the most up-to-date information:
