Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items
Categories
UFS News Media Release Research
Years
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Months
January February March May April June July August September October
Previous Archive
22 October 2025 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Supplied
Giraffe Research Centre
The giraffe research programme and infrastructure facility at Amanzi Private Game Reserve marks the next phase in a research journey that has already placed the UFS at the forefront of giraffe science.

The University of the Free State (UFS) is taking wildlife research to new heights. On Wednesday 29 October 2025, the university will officially launch the giraffe research programme and infrastructure facility at the Amanzi Private Game Reserve near Brandfort – a first-of-its-kind in the world, dedicated to advancing local and international scientific collaboration in the study and conservation of giraffes.

The launch marks the next phase in a research journey that has already placed the UFS at the forefront of giraffe science. Over the past decade, a team of researchers, led by Prof Francois Deacon from the Department of Animal Science, has made significant contributions to understanding giraffe behaviour, physiology, and ecology. Building on pioneering work in reproductive technologies, endocrinology, anatomy, and disease, the new infrastructure combines on-site research laboratories with spacious, stress-free habitats. In this hands-on environment, veterinarians, scientists, and students can work closely with giraffes while promoting their welfare and supporting both local and international research projects.

Over the past seven years, his team has conducted 254 successful sedations and captures, carefully building the expertise needed for the next delicate step: the first embryo transfer in wild giraffes.

“This dedicated research facility will provide a safe and controlled environment where the world’s first giraffe embryo can develop and grow, and where we can collaborate to produce the science needed to turn the extinction of the giraffe around,” he explains. “The general public may not see the results immediately, but 20 years from now, what we are doing today will be vital in creating a biobank of viable giraffe embryos and calves that can be used in surrogate animals, supporting sustainable conservation practices for future generations.”

This programme will allow researchers to expand their understanding of the world’s tallest land mammal in ways that were not possible before. “From conducting sedation and sample collection to pioneering reproductive techniques such as semen preservation and embryo transfer, the facility provides an environment where we can study, among others, giraffe genetics, reproductive biology, and physiology; knowledge that is important for their conservation and survival,” says Prof Deacon. 

About 12 departments at the UFS are already involved in the research project in one way or another. This includes from the Department of Animal Science to the Departments of Zoology and Entomology, as well as Chemistry and even Information and Communication and Technology Services, which contributes to 3D-modelling, software, and monitoring of the animals. 

The project also offers opportunities for collaboration with conservation organisations and universities worldwide, positioning the UFS as a leading hub for giraffe and large-mammal research in Africa. Current partners who share Prof Deacon’s vision for giraffe conservation on the African continent include Save the Giraffes (a US-based NGO), Absolute Genetics, Ramsem, and the Kroonstad Animal Hospital.

Despite their towering presence on the African continent, giraffes are quietly disappearing. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists them as Vulnerable, with populations declining by more than 40% over the past three decades. Today, fewer than 100 000 remain in the wild – a sobering reminder that their future is far from secure and that research excellence like this is key to ensure their survival.

“We have all the technology and all the expertise to make a change. Now is the time to bring about this change to secure the future of giraffes on this continent,” Prof Deacon concludes, emphasising the UFS’ commitment to sustainability, care, and conservation.

News Archive

Faculty of Law establishes unique panel of advisors
2005-11-11

Photo: Stephen Collett

Some of the panel members who attended the Collegium Iurisprudentium of the Faculty of Law at the UFS were from the left His Honorable Judge of Appeal Lex Mpati (Vice-President of the Supreme Court of Appeal), His Honorable Judge of Appeal Joos Hefer (former Chief Justice of South Africa), His Honorable Judge of Appeal Frits Brand (Supreme Court of Appeal) and Mrs Alet Ellis (lecturer at the UFS Faculty of Law).

At the back from left were Prof Johan Henning (Dean: Faculty of Law at the UFS), His Honorable Judge Faan Hancke (High Court of the Free State and chairperson of the UFS Council) and Adv Jannie Lubbe Sc.

The Faculty of Law at the University of the Free State (UFS) has established a panel of advisors comprising of all the honorary and extraordinary professors of the faculty.

“The faculty has been known for its excellent practice-orientated training as well as the involvement of law practitioners in the training of LL B-students,” said Prof Johan Henning, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the UFS.

“The faculty was greatly dependent on the services of advocate lecturers, full-time members of the Bar and Side Bar who lectured on a part-time basis at the faculty.  For this reason lecturing in the faculty was mainly done after-hours to part-time students,” said Prof Henning. 

With the shift in emphasis to full-time lecturing and the appointment of full-time lecturers, especially because of the increasing student numbers, the full-time LL B-programme and the increasing pressure on students for quality research inputs, a greater need for meaningful contributions of judges and senior law practitioners to the faculty was experienced.

“To comply with this urgent need, three honorary professors and nine extraordinary professors were appointed.  This group of experts deliver an indispensable contribution to the practice orientation of the faculty by means of formal lectures, public inaugural lectures and guest lectures, direct lectures to graduate and post-graduate students, participation in research projects and the  constant evaluation of lecturers, modules and the content of modules and learning material. The international exposure of students and lecturers is also promoted by their contribution,” said Prof Henning.
“A need to have the involvement of this special class of professors structured in a more organised way was identified and a decision was made to establish an advisory panel called Collegium Iurisprudentium.  It is a privilege to us that all the honorary and extraordinary professors accepted the invitation,” said Prof  Henning. 

The panel will provide the faculty with continuous, distinguished, practice- orientated capability and capacity as well as international expertise, not only for direct inputs to students but also to advise lecturers about the curriculum, the compilation of the content of the LL B and M module, learning material and others, as well as to strengthen the research capacity of the faculty.

“The panel will also deliver a decisive contribution to the faculty’s preparation for the constitutional audit of the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) of the Council for Higher Education (CHE) that will take place in October 2006,” said Prof Henning. 

The Collegium Iurisprudentium, which has been formally constituted, comprises of:

Appeal Court Judge J J F Hefer,
Appeal Court Judge L Mpati
Appeal Court Judge F D J Brand
Appeal Court Judge I G Farlam
Prof B A K Rider
Judge S P B Hancke
Judge A Kruger
Judge D H van Zyl
Adv S J Naudé
Adv J Lubbe Sc
Prof M M Katz
Prof R J Cook
Mr S van de Merwe
Mr W van der Westhuizen
Mr D C M Gihwala

Media release
Issued by:Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:  (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
11 November 2005

 

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept