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14 August 2018
Media effectively used to save the giraffe
“If we can save the habitat wildlife need, then the animals will be just fine,” said Dr Francois Deacon, a wildlife habitat expert in the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences.

The University of the Free State (UFS) is leading the fight against the extinction of giraffes and has assembled the largest research team in the world to manage, coordinate, and address this issue. Seven UFS departments are involved in this research. 

Dr Francois Deacon, a wildlife habitat expert in the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences, is leading the team of researchers who tasked themselves with better understanding the giraffe, and in so doing, save the giraffe. He said: "One way to stop the plummeting numbers is to learn more about how giraffes use their habitat and how much area they need in order to survive."

Dr Deacon focuses on the spatial ecology of wild animals. His main research focus is to understand the ecological and biological factors that regulate giraffe in their natural habitat.

Documentaries save

He collaborated with a documentary film crew to release the second in a trilogy of documentaries regarding giraffes and their natural habitat. The first, Last of the Longnecks, focused on the fact that giraffes are becoming extinct. The second documentary, Catching Giants, which was released last year, includes footage on how a multi-specialist research group of over 30 people from 10 different countries worked together to collect information about these little-known animals.

Documentaries such as these, together with a recent insert in the local wildlife documentary on SABC 2, 50/50, also helped to raise awareness on the giraffe and its plight.

Telling the truth

Dr Deacon said: “It is extremely important for the public to see how involved we really are with a major problem such as a species becoming extinct. Media exposure outlines the truth of what man is doing to nature. Cooperating with media such as the BBC, National Geographic, and 50/50, offers other journalists, producers, editors, and authors the opportunity to also take responsibility for raising awareness on the issue.” 

“Apart from the fact that awareness is shedding light on the problem, it also highlights who the leaders in this field are, what they are doing to address the problem, and what more is needed to make a change. The latter includes the funding of postgraduate students to conduct further research on this matter. If we were able to gather sufficient knowledge through different research questions across the globe, we could really make a difference in saving giraffes from extinction.” 

News Archive

Sought-after fellowship for Deaf Kovsie academic
2012-04-25

 

Magteld Smith
Photo: Provided
25 April 2012

For a Deaf person to achieve academic excellence in a sound-dominated world is extremely challenging, but Ms Magteld Smith sees each challenge as another opportunity.

Ms Smith, a Medical Social Researcher at the University of the Free State (UFS), recently received the Herbert H Humphrey fellowship. She is one of only two South Africans to receive this fellowship.
 
The Humphrey Fellowship Program provides mid-career professionals from designated countries around the world with an opportunity to enhance their professional capabilities through participation and is developed specifically for small clusters of Humphrey Fellows at 18 selected US universities.
 
It was initiated in 1978 to honour the memory and accomplishments of the former Senator and Vice-President, Humbert H. Humphrey. Fellows are selected based on their potential for national leadership and commitment to public service, in either the public or private sector. The programme provides a basis for establishing long-lasting productive partnerships and relationships between citizens of the United States and their professional counterparts in other countries, fostering an exchange of knowledge and mutual understanding throughout the world.
 
Ms Smith applied for this fellowship, but was still very surprised when she heard her application was successful.
 
“Upon receiving the news, in my mind I saw an enormous rotating world globe and I asked my Heavenly Father, "What is happening now?" I saw big libraries with books, laboratories, state of the art technology for people with hearing impairments, big cars, big houses, big trucks, big farmers, big women and the White House with big trouble. Furthermore, I saw how the UFS became the world leader of academic excellence and change for people with disabilities with high technology manufacturing and rehabilitation programmes.”
 
Ms Smith says Prof. Jonathan Jansen, UFS Vice-Chancellor and Rector, is a great asset, because for the first time people with disabilities are high on the priority list.

 

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