Andro Vos

Here, Andro tells the incredible story of the Wildlife Forensic Academy.
A 13-year development and realisation that started at the Netherlands Forensic Institute. A single question at Stellenbosch University in South Africa changed his entire life. A life-threatening armed robbery and the murder of four rhinos led to a complete transformation. Namely, the development of the world’s first wildlife forensic academy.

The story of the Wildlife Forensic Academy is inspiring. It shows how you, as a professional, can make a difference. How inspiring is it when Dutch knowledge leads to a true innovation that halts the ruthless poaching causing animal extinction and prevents diseases like EBOLA, AIDS, and COVID from being transmitted to humans. Forensic knowledge in the field of human crime scenes is transformed into knowledge that is successfully used to solve and prevent poaching. We achieve this through the realisation of a globally unique training facility and business model for nature conservation.

The construction of the Wildlife Forensic Academy began with a dream… But dreams alone achieve nothing. Concrete goals must be set. By working hard and with iron discipline, these can also be realised. But with a good plan and clear business case, you are not there yet. You will need to look at yourself, as a person, and ask yourself if you are ready to step out of your comfort zone. That safe, warm place where you know everyone and where everything goes by routine, where your certainties are guaranteed.

We, as humanity, must pull out all the stops to restore and protect nature. It is our moral duty to take responsibility for the earth and everything that lives on it.

Especially in African countries, a huge disaster is unfolding. Often commissioned by Asian countries, poaching occurs. No animal is spared. It involves the plundering of plants and trees, sea life, and virtually all animals living on land. If we act quickly, in 30 years, no living wild animal will be found in the African countryside. This will have enormous consequences for the biodiversity and habitability of our planet.

Wildlife crime is the most severe form of organised crime after drugs, arms, and human trafficking. According to World Bank figures, the total scale is estimated between 1 and 2 trillion dollars. The chance of apprehension for this form of crime is low, and the profits are very lucrative. If you kill an elephant or rhino, you have ivory or a rhino horn, which is an asset you can trade for drugs, money, weapons, and even finance terrorism. Wildlife crime is thus a facilitating form of organised crime. It supports all other forms of crime because they use wildlife crime routes that are uncontrolled by the police.