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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

Full week of graduation ceremonies at UFS in April
2015-04-10

Autumn always sees the UFS’s first graduation ceremony of the year on the Bloemfontein Campus.

From 14 – 17 April 2015, graduates will once again be rewarded for their hard work while top speakers will address them in the Callie Human Centre. There will be a ceremony at 09:00 and at 14:30 each day on all four days of the graduation.

The programme for the 2015 April Graduation is as follows:

Tuesday 14 April 2015:

Professor Himla Soodyall will be the speaker at both ceremonies on this day. Prof Soodyall is a Medical Scientist for the South African Institute for Medical Research. She is also a Principal Medical Scientist for the National Health Laboratory Service, and a Director for the Human Genome Diversity and Disease Research Unit at the University of Witwatersrand.

During the first ceremony of the day at 09:00, all diplomas/certificates and B degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will be awarded. Only Honours degrees in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences will be awarded at the 14:30 ceremony.
 
Wednesday 15 April 2015:

Wednesday will see Ndumiso Hadebe take the stage to address graduates at both ceremonies.

At the age of 23, Hadebe is the Founder and Managing Director of Master Frontiers Consulting, a firm that capacitates leaders and managers to achieve business goals through their people. He worked previously as a Researcher at Shanduka Black Umbrellas, a flagship enterprise and supplier development programme of the Shanduka Foundation. 

He has been received numerous awards for excellence in leadership, such as the Sedibeng District Municipal Mayor’s Award for Service and Leadership. He is a Brand South Africa Ambassador and Read Educational Trust Ambassador.

All diplomas/certificates, B and Honours degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, except B Com degrees, will be awarded during the morning ceremony at 09:00. Later, at the 14:30 ceremony, only B Com degrees in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences will be awarded.

Thursday 16 April 2015:

Multiple award winning South African TV presenter, Leanne Manas, will be the speaker at both Thursday ceremonies.

Manas has graced our screens for over a decade. Not many broadcasters can boast having had live TV experience, 5 days a week for 12 years. She is currently the anchor of SABC 2’s flagship breakfast programme, Morning Live. Leanne is a qualified Speech and Drama teacher. having studied at London Trinity College. She also has an Honours degree in English.
Diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculty of the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Communication Sciences will be awarded during the ceremony at 09:00. The 14:30 ceremony will have diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculty of the Humanities’ other qualifications except for Social Sciences and Communication Sciences.
 
Friday 17 April 2015:

Dr Maria Phalime will be the speaker at both ceremonies on Friday.

Phalime is a medical doctor and award-winning author. She practiced for a brief period as a general practitioner in South Africa and the United Kingdom, before leaving medical practice to pursue non-clinical interests. She has worked in trade and investment promotion, and has undertaken research and consulting in the areas of economic development and business facilitation.

Diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculty of Education (CE, NPDE and ACE excluded) will be awarded during the ceremony at 09:00. Diplomas/certificates up to and including Honours degrees in the Faculties of Health Sciences, Law, and Theology will be awarded at the 14:30 ceremony.

Click here for the simple layout of the 2015 April Graduation programme:
http://www.ufs.ac.za/adhoc-pages/2014-graduation-ceremony/graduation-ceremony

Economic and Management Sciences

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Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

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