About WildlifeCampus

Introduction

WildlifeCampus is an international online Virtual Campus offering a wide variety of Wildlife, Wildlife-related, Natural Science and Ecotourism Courses covering the spectacular diversity of life found on our planet and specifically on African savannas. By completing these courses, you too can receive a variety of industry recognised, endorsed and accredited qualifications or simply enjoy a deeper understanding of the African wild and oceans.

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Our Logo

The baobab is considered by many to be the quintessential African tree. For many indigenous tribes it is the embodiment of wisdom, reverence, teaching, respect, leadership, longevity, health and life. It is also shrouded in myth, legend, superstition and magic.

The San associate it with the origins of creation, others believe it presides over the animals who go to it to settle disputes. Some use it to cure ills, ward off evil spirits and to gain protection from crocodiles. Baobabs are the oldest of all African creatures with several individuals having been recorded as being in excess of 2,000 years old.

WildlifeCampus has embraced a legend that reveres the baobab as the 'Keeper of Knowledge', and therefore believe it to be a fitting emblem. It is our strongest hope that you too will come to associate this attribute with the baobab - and with WildlifeCampus.

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Our Courses

Our current Courses include:
  1. Game Ranging (Field Guiding)
  2. Game Lodge Management
  3. Game Capture, Care & Management of Wildlife
  4. Wildlife Management
  5. Wilderness Navigation
  6. Medically Important Spiders
  7. Animals Tracks & Signs of Africa
  8. FGASA Examination Preperation
  9. Cultural Guiding
  10. Marine Biology for Guides, Divers and Enthusiasts
  11. Geology, Palaeontology & Evolution
  12. Human - Wildlife Conflicts
  13. Birding by Habitat: Beginner, Enthusiast, Expert
  14. Hunting: A Balanced Perspective
  15. Wildlife Photography
  16. Behaviour Guide to Mammals of the RSA Lowveld
  17. Game Ranch Economics
  18. The Behaviour Guide to African Carnivores
  19. The Behaviour Guide to African Herbivores
  20. The Behaviour Guide to African Primates
  21. Trails Guide
  22. Survival
  23. Snakes and Reptiles of the Lowveld
  24. Astronomy
  25. Introduction to Photography
  26. The Guides Guide to Guiding
  27. African Folklore by Credo Mutwa
  28. Discovering Wilderness Safaris
  29. Elephants: Facts & Fables
  30. The Big '5'
    31.

In addition, new courses in are always in development, Animal Rehabilitation is on the way.

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Facts and a Pinch of salt

Life sciences are not "exact sciences". In fact the only scientific discipline that can realistically claim the title of a 'pure science' is mathematics. Accordingly, what we know and consequently what we impart only represents our understanding at the present time. The validity or 'truth' of these facts remains to be proved or disproved.

Throughout these courses we will present thousands of facts, but these only represent our current knowledge on the subject, whether it be the ecology of rhinos or rhino beetles. We have no doubt that certainly some portion of what we present here will in time be proven incorrect or perhaps partially correct. Biology is the epitome of a dynamic and growing scientific discipline. New facts and discoveries are being made continually. Old and accepted views and ideas are being reviewed and disproved. Others are being further enhanced and are becoming further entrenched.

The 'facts' presented in these courses are an amalgamation of the texts and research of hundreds of previous botanists, zoologists, ornithologists, behaviourists, biologists, taxonomists, herpetologists, geologists, geographers, meteorologists, naturalists, entomologists, environmentalists, ecologists, ethologists and enthusiasts who have had the opportunity to present their own experiences.

These have then been coupled with our own research, impressions and interpretations and then presented to you.

Therefore what you read in these pages should be taken with a healthy amount of scepticism. The final objective is to eventually arrive at your own conclusions and understanding.

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Affiliation & Accreditation

The Game Ranging (Field Guiding) qualification is fully endorsed and accredited by the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA).

Our Wildlife Management qualification is conferred in association with EcoLife , a private company specialising in Wildlife Management Consulting and Wildlife Management Expeditions.

The Trails Guide qualification is fully accredited and endorsed by the Field Guides Association of South Africa (FGASA). It is jointly conferred by WildlifeCampus, FGASA and EcoTraining.

Our Game Lodge Management Course is jointly conferred with Wilderness Safaris.

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Philosophy

The philosophy behind WildlifeCampus is quite simple - it's about conservation and how the average person really can make a difference. The whole concept of WildlifeCampus can be summed up by a very simple idiom.

- Tell them, and they may forget.
- Show them, and they may remember.
but
- Involve them, and they will understand.

We hope you will come to a greater understanding of the incredible wonders that our world has to offer, and the fragility of that world. Take with you the fact that just by participating as you are, you will already have helped in the great battle that is conservation.

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Conservation

The general theme running throughout the course is one of conservation. In the writing of these courses, we often wondered what they would have been like if written 200 years ago. Certainly they would not have had nearly the depth of information that has been supplied now, but it would have had attributes that we think are far more important. Firstly it would have contained more species, now lost to our planet forever. And, instead of just being able to describe the great herds that these animals used to frequent, and the vast areas that they used to inhabit; perhaps we could have shown you.

These thoughts have lead us to think about what these courses would offer if written in a further 200 years. No doubt fewer species and less land still.

It strikes us with a cruel irony that just at the point of our own evolution, where we finally decide to learn more about the world and the creatures around us, we find that there are far less creatures than there used to be, and those still here, only exist in habitats growing smaller everyday.

WildlifeCampus provides you with the opportunity to assist in turning the tide against diminishing habitats and the continuing extinction of species.

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Reference Lists

Please view a comprehensive list of references used in compiling these courses.
Please Note. These reference lists do not constitute recommended reading lists. No additional reading material is required for the completion of the WildlifeCampus Courses. These lists are simply provided as acknowledge of the reading material that was used in compling of our courses.

Click here for our Reference Lists

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WildlifeCampus Imagery

In terms of the AfriCam philosophy of 'Always Live Always Wild', wherever possible we have used AfriCam camera imagery to complement our text.

  • To this end we acknowledge the efforts of AfriCam's Virtual Game Drive Teams who have been ultimately responsible for many of the photographs seen on this site.

  • Another very prominent contributor of photography is Wilderness Safaris

  • Out of Africa Images has been especially generous, supplying images for several of our courses, notably, Game Capture and our Hunting Debate.

  • Many of our Course Authors have also been invaluable in providing imagery specific to the course supplied.

  • We have also used the photographic talents of AfriPics professionals as well as Mwana Bermudes and Nelda Villines to get some of those 'hard to get' images.

  • Biodiversity Explorer is produced by the South African Museum, part of Iziko Museums of Cape Town.

  • A special mention must also be made of EcoLife Safaris together with the Centre for Wildlife Management for generously supplying much of the imagery in the Wildlife Management Course.

  • Lastly we need to mention the photographic talents and efforts of many of the WildlifeCampus Students. We regularly recieve great imagery from you and encourage the practice. Simply e-mail us any wildlife-related photos, together with the the copyright tag required.

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