Our Ocean Campus hosted the Wildlife Forensics Academy for a two-day workshop

16 July, 2025 - Education, Conservation, Foundation, Blog, Courses

Our Ocean Campus’ Adult Education team gave the Wildlife Forensics Academy an introduction to life behind the scenes!

This past week, the Two Oceans Aquarium Foundation’s Ocean Campus hosted several Wildlife Forensics Academy (WFA) interns for a two-day workshop aimed at introducing these bright young minds to the work of the Two Oceans Aquarium and its Foundation.

The programme gave participants meaningful insight into South Africa’s rich coastal biodiversity, the iconic kelp forest ecosystem, and important topics like fisheries management and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). To bring them even closer to the daily work behind our exhibits, the interns enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour with our Senior Quarantine Aquarist, Inge Adams. Inge guided the interns through the daily routines and challenges faced by aquarists before the Aquarium opens to the public.

Our Adult Training team also conducted several sessions on how to communicate ocean conservation messages effectively. Afterwards, the group observed the Aquarium’s exhibit feeding times and used their newfound skills to share thoughtful recommendations to help us improve our commentary and visitor engagement.

Dr Nathalie Viljoen talking about ocean conservation messaging.

A morning marine wildlife walk took our enthusiastic participants along the V&A Waterfront, highlighting species that visit and live in the harbour space. They also visited the Seal Platform, where our Marine Wildlife Management team regularly rescues Cape fur seals. Later, the participants enjoyed engaging presentations from a talk about our Turtle Conservation Centre to interactive discussions that sparked deeper curiosity about our ocean.

Martine Viljoen, Marine Wildlife Management Programme Manager, showing the participants the Seal Platform.

The experience was designed to be interactive and hands-on. Participants rolled up their sleeves for a kelp holdfast dissection and tackled real-world ocean issues through themed group activities, like exploring biodiversity loss in fishing communities and the impacts of plastic pollution on marine life.

“It is partnerships like the one we have with the Wildlife Forensics Academy that help us expand our reach locally and internationally and inspire meaningful action for ocean conservation,” says Phindile Gazu, Adult Training Coordinator.