A memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was signed on 2 November 2015 between the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria (UP) and Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) will make a significant contribution to an extended capacity to service the wildlife industry in South Africa, with specific emphasis on the diagnostic pathology of wildlife.

The MoU entails the full funding by the WRSA of a clinical assistant position in the Pathology Section, in the Department of Paraclinical Sciences, to which the Department will appoint a full-time student. The incumbent is expected to register for and complete the three- to four-year MMedVet(Path) degree under the supervision of members in the Pathology Section and, for the duration of the study period, also render a diagnostic service to the wildlife industry, in particular to the WRSA.

The agreement, signed by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Darrell Abernethy, and the President of the WRSA, Dr Peter Oberem, will be effective for a period of three years from 1 January 2016, but may be extended for another year if recommended by the Head of the Department of Paraclinical Sciences.

At the signing ceremony Dr Oberem gave a presentation introducing Afrivet Business Management (of which he is the Managing Director), an organisation dedicated to the transfer of knowledge in the field of animal health. Already sponsoring the Chair in Primary Animal Health Care in the Faculty of Veterinary Science at UP, Afrivet’s strategy is to make existing information available to all in the field. For instance, the company has sold more than 9 000 books to the value of R4,5 million covering various interesting topics ranging from game and cattle to donkeys. One of their latest books, Veterinary Helminthology for South Africa, to which some Faculty members and retired staff have contributed, was also introduced. Leather-bound copies were presented to Prof Nick Kriek (in his absence), Prof Joop Boomker (retired), and Dr Volker Schwan of the Faculty of Veterinary Science at UP. A copy was also presented to the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Darrell Abernethy.