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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

New Genetics building on Bloemfontein Campus spirals into new frontiers
2015-09-11

On Thursday 3 September 2015, the Department of Genetics hosted the official opening of its new offices on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS).

Prof Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, Prof Neil Heideman, Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and Prof Paul Grobler, Head of the Department of Genetics cut the ribbon, symbolising the opening of this building with its state-of-the-art facilities.

The new genetics building boasts a new administration block with a reception area, seven offices, a small committee room, and a seminar room for 50 people. Furthermore, the undergraduate laboratory block provides a laboratory for 150 students. The research block has facilities for 30 researchers.

This building also hosts a chemical waste sorting and storage facility. This is a first for the university.

Several sites were investigated for the new building, but due to its size and envisaged second phase, a “green fields” site was found on the western side of the campus. The main entrance caters for visitors from the north, students on foot, and those using the parking area in front of the library. The secondary south entrance is for those who use the dedicated parking area south of the building. The link between these two entrances is the spine of the building, a helix with services/buildings spaced on either side. The helix will be extended in the second phase to keep the circulation and linkage of buildings as simple as possible.

In his opening speech, Prof Grobler gave a breakdown of the history of the Department of Genetics. Today, this department, which opened its doors at the UFS in 1960, is proud of its 131 students and 46 honours students.

According to Major-General Edward Ngokha, Head of the Forensic Science Laboratory, students who graduate from the UFS in the field of genetics make excellent employees. The Forensic Science Laboratory has employed 25 honours students since the BSc Honours degree in Genetics was implemented in 2010.

“The UFS delivers education of high quality and high standards. Thank you for your contribution toward fighting crime by delivering well-prepared, committed employees,” said Major-General Ngokha.

The department presents programmes on population conservation genetics, plant molecular genetics, cytogenetics, forensic genetics, forensic science, human genetics, and behavioural genetics.

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