Laker Wildlife Initiative News

USG Goes Global – Cape Town, South Africa (2026-2028)

Dr. Andrea Allen directs this study abroad program, which takes students to Cape Town, South Africa, and the Wildlife Forensic Academy (WFA) at Buffelsfontein Nature Reserve, just an hour north of the city. Students will complete two for-credit courses: POLS 2401 Global Issues: Wildlife Crime and Conservation and FOSC 3600 Wildlife Forensics. The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in WFA’s state-of-the-art forensic experience lab, where students investigate realistic wildlife crime scenes and learn evidence collection techniques used to combat poaching and trafficking. In addition to coursework, students will participate in excursions throughout the region, gaining a deeper understanding of conservation challenges and solutions in the field.