StudentProgram

Our Research Institute provides a realistic setting in an
actual location where students pursuing educational
programs in Biology, Zoology and the Veterinary Medical
Sciences may receive "hands on training'" in concert
with instruction on site. An experience of a lifetime and
career awaits you.

About Our Student Program:

Working with free-ranging, wild animals imposes a
considerable responsibility on program design and
personnel. To maintain a level of operational excellence,
anyone involved with these programs must be held to a
greater standard of accountability in order to maximize results
and minimize injuries and losses. When individual animals are
physically captured and manipulated, it must be done with the
greatest consideration for the safety, comfort and welfare of
the animal. The guiding principal here is that each individual
animal, regardless of its kind or numbers, must be treated as
carefully as one would handle the last of its species. Our
general position on wildlife can be summarized as follows:

“We believe that wild animals should be preserved in their
natural habitats, and permitted to exist in a state of nature
sustained by their innate abilities and with as little human
interference as possible. Staff, students and volunteers who
are working with wild animals should always recognize that
they are working with an invaluable and increasingly scarce
resource, and that grave responsibilities are associated with
this undertaking. We acknowledge that, like ourselves,
animals are sentient creatures and have their own sense of
worth, purposes and intentions, which are separate from the
value or purpose we may assign to them and we recognize
that animals are individuals. Each one has its own
idiosyncrasies, sensitivities, personality, wants and needs,
and will be treated accordingly. This is the standard against
which the propriety of our conduct toward the wild animals
that we manage, capture, handle, or care for will be measured.”

It is a requirement for acceptance to the Institute’s academic
courses of instruction that students understand and fully
agree with the above summarized statement. It is equally
important that the essence or spirit of these sentiments be
carried out on a daily basis in the work performed by staff,
volunteers and students alike. Any divergence or violation
will lead to remedial action or dismissal from the program or
academic course of instruction. The world’s free-ranging
wildlife is dwindling at an alarming rate and the majority of the
Earth’s wild species may be lost within the next few
generations. It is our responsibility to do our part to ensure
the survival of the indigenous wildlife in at least one small
corner of the world. We intend to do this to the best of our
ability.

About Our Courses:

The South West Africa Wildlife Preservation & Research
Institute is in the continuous process of developing a
curriculum of academic instruction and field techniques
programs. The major topics of the curriculum will be ecology,
wildlife biology and behavior, habitat conservation and wildlife
management. Courses in chemical immobilization and captive
animal handling for more advanced students are also under
consideration. The staff at the Institute will teach some of
these programs, while guest lecturers will teach others from
participating universities in Southern Africa. Qualified
students are selected for a 30 day course duration. This will
provide a minimum of 30 days or 240 hours of instruction.
Students should plan for a 30 day period. Students are not
permitted to operate the Institute’s vehicles. Classes will be
kept small, 12 students or less, and the instruction is
concentrated and intensive. The course work conducted at
the Institute will be difficult and challenging and requires the
full attention and diligence of the students. Passing grades
are no less the 80% in all evaluations. We strive for
excellence in our academic program and expect no less of the
students we graduate. At a future time, we may apply for
accreditation for eligible courses within our curriculum. The
Institute will accept students from any bona fide university,
college, or technical school from any country, which is not
overtly hostile to the United States, the Republic of Namibia, or
the Republic of South Africa.

Curriculum and General Areas of Concentration:

Orientation
Environmental/Ecological Considerations
Habitat Conservation
Wildlife Management Considerations
Capture of Wildlife/Immobilization
Captive Animal Handling
DNA Procedures
Guest Lecturers
Field Techniques
Operation of Holding Areas (Bomas,etc.)
Transport of Captured Wildlife
Species Studies
Preservation and Perpetuation of Wildlife
Record Keeping/Reports/ Preparation of Papers

Class Dates:

Please check with us for our annual class dates.

Course Fees & Travel Arrangements:

Our course fee is $3,570.00 plus air travel costs which fluctuate
in current market conditions . Contact Sasha Mote at 713-248-
8377 or planetrescue@aol.com for travel arrangements. All
travel arrangements MUST be made through the institute to
coordinate arrival and departure dates appropriately. We
accept money orders, certified checks, and wire transfers. All
payments are considered final. If you cancel your travel
arrangements, only 50% of your institute fee will be refunded.
Any cancellations/refunds on airfare/travel you will have to
discuss with the airline.   Payment of full course fee and full
airfare payment must be made at least 40 days prior to
departure.   SEE IMPORTANT NOTE ON TRAVEL AT THE BOTTOM.

Requirements for Acceptance:

The requirements for admission to the Institute’s academic
courses of instruction are:

a) Agree with and accept the Institute’s purposes, mission and
philosophy.
b) Complete and sign an admission application, including a
liability release.
c) Be 18 years of age or older.
d) Be of good health and in excellent physical and emotional
condition.
e) Must submit a passport size photograph in color.
f)   Have a valid passport and visa, the necessary
immunizations (including tetanus), and a licensed
physician's statement that the applicant is in good health
and drug free. Also required are three letters of
recommendation from teachers and a criminal history
clearance form from the relevant local law enforcement
agency.
Applicants must have a valid vehicle operator’s permit and
indicate expiration date.
g) Be willing to provide own transportation or the cost of
transportation to and from Cape Town Airport in South
Africa.
h)   Have maintained an academic GPA of at least 3.0
throughout the last year.
i)    Be willing to learn study and work hard, including evening
studies.
j)    Be willing to accept any assignment or work designated.
k)   Be willing to accept and abide by the Institutes Code of
Conduct.
l)    Students will be subordinate to a specified course
supervisor (or instructor) and fully understand and accept
the meaning of this relationship.
m) Any contention, controversy, or violation of the Institute’s
code of conduct involving a student will be mediated and
decided by the Institute’s teaching staff in its sole
discretion. The staff’s decision is final.
n)   When necessary, a student may be discharged for cause.
o)   Student housing, food and basic medical treatment is
included in the tuition fee. During their stay at the
Institute, students will be responsible for their own
clothing personal equipment, and spending money.
p)   Payment of the tuition fee must be submitted with an
application for admission.
q)   The Institute reserves the right to refuse any student
application for submission.

Students/Study Course Development:

Students must apply through their respective college or
university and have approval to attend for credit(s). The
corporation is not a college or university and can only certify
to the student’s accomplishments, or lack thereof, according
to the requirements and criteria furnished by the sending
institution. The corporation’s training and exposure programs
are an extension of the classroom/learning environment. The
student application for attendance will be in the form
prescribed and furnished to the subscribing/sending
institution along with acceptance and qualifying requirements
for attendance. Any tuition costs will be stated on information
notification documents sent to colleges and universities with
enrolled students who desire to participate. The curriculum is
subject to modification/change but will always address wildlife
management, species study, capture, handling methodology,
transport, operation of wildlife holding areas, laboratory
sample collection, preservation and perpetuation of wildlife,
record keeping and other related subject matter.

University/Department Heads:

Universities will need to provide us with the necessary
paperwork to complete in order to give the students proper
credit for their course work. Most universities offer 4-6 credit
hours for completion of the course.

SUGGESTED STUDENT EQUIPMENT LIST (PERSONALS)

4 PAIRS OF TROUSERS
6 SHIRTS
6 UNDERGARMENTS
6 SOCKS
TOILET ARTICLES
2 SWEATERS
1 LIGHT JACKET
1 MEDIUM WEIGHT JACKET
1 PAIR OF GLOVES
2 HEADGEAR (WIDE BRIM)
2 HEAVY DUTY SHOES OR HIKING BOOTS
INSECT NET (FOR HEAD AGAINST INSECTS IN THE FIELD)
HEAVY DUTY INFLATABLE AIR MATTRESS
BLANKET
GOOD FLASHLIGHT WITH 2 EXTRA BULBS AND 3 SETS OF
FRESH BATTERIES
GOOD VIDEO CAMERA WITH BATTERIES AND SPARE TAPE
GOOD 35 MM CAMERA WITH FILM AND EXTRA BATTERIES
CAR AC ADAPTER SUITABLE FOR RECHARGING ELECTRONICS
SMALL AUDIO RECORDER (OPTIONAL)
NOTE BOOKS, PENS, PENCILS
COPIES OF ANY MEDICAL PRESCRIPTIONS NEEDED
PERSONAL MEDICATIONS
PERSONAL SPENDING OR EMERGENCY MONIES (CONVERT TO
RAND AT A BANK ONLY)
IDENTIFICATION

NO FIREARMS OR WEAPONS

THE ABOVE REPRESENTS THE MINIMUM IN STUDENT SUPPORT
EQUIPMENT. STUDENTS MUST HAVE REQUIRED PASSPORTS
OR TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION. STUDENTS MAY WANT TO
PURCHASE TRAVEL INSURANCE. WE FURNISH ALL STUDY
MATERIALS. STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO TRAVEL LIGHT.
THE FLIGHT FROM THE US TO CAPE TOWN IS LONG. OVERLAND
TRAVEL TO THE SITE IS EQUALLY LONG AND TIRING AFTER THE
FLIGHT. ALL STUDENTS MUST PLAN TO DEPART THE US ON A
THURSDAY AND ARRIVE IN CAPE TOWN BETWEEN 6:00 A.M. AND
4:00 P.M. (0600 AND 1600 HOURS) LOCAL TIME ON FRIDAY FOR
ONWARD TRANSPORTATION. ARRIVAL ON SITE IS SCHEDULED
FOR SATURDAY. ORIENTATION IS ON SUNDAY AND STUDY
BEGINS EARLY MONDAY MORNING AND CONTINUES TO
COMPLETION AND STUDENTS DEPARTURE FROM THE SITE.
RETURN IS OVERLAND TO CAPE TOWN WITH EVENING
DEPARTURE TO THE U.S.

Important Note on Travel:

Student travel is arranged so that they arrive and are all
picked up at the same time. If a student misses a flight or
comes in late, due to time and distance costs, an extra pick up
fee will be added. Shopping, meals, ect. on the way to and
back from the Institute is not included in our tuition fee and is
considered extra student expense.