Research News

Whale Unit 2018 Aerial Survey

Posted on September 25, 2018

The 39th instalment of one of the longest running surveys of any marine mammal is about to start.

Communication is costly in Heaviside's Dolphins

Posted on July 20, 2018

Research led by scientists at the University of Pretoria (UP) has shed light on an evolutionary arms race with a twist. This research, conducted by Morgan J. Martin, a PhD student from UP has found that the small Heaviside’s dolphins (Cephalorhynchus heavisidii) selectively switch between...

White rhinos communicate through their ablution habits

Posted on July 19, 2018

A study by a University of Pretoria researcher into the ablution habits of white rhinos in the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, has revealed that these animals use their place of defecation to communicate with each other and take decisions that can affect their ecology.

Mammals move less in human-modified landscapes

Posted on February 02, 2018

Mammals move shorter distance in human-modified landscapes, which may affect ecosystems and society.

Unravelling the mysteries of meerkat behaviour

Posted on November 08, 2017

Researchers at the University of Pretoria form part of the Kalahari Meerkat Project in the Northern Cape's Kuruman River Reserve, which has studied groups of wild meerkats for over 20 years.

Ground-breaking surgical procedure by South African team regarded as the first of its kind

Posted on October 13, 2017

In what is regarded as a first of its kind, a group of South African veterinarians, together with a maxillofacial surgeon, succeeded in surgically lengthening the misaligned jaw of an adult male chimpanzee.

Spotting the right whale with annual survey

Posted on September 26, 2017

UP's Whale Unit will be conducting their annual aerial survey of southern right whales

Research explores the social life of one of Africa's most iconic animals

Posted on September 20, 2017

Giraffes are now listed as a threatened species, and it is said that there are currently fewer giraffes than elephants in Africa. Research taking place at the University of Pretoria, will ensure a greater understanding of this species.