Wildlife Biodiversity Conservation

I. The Impact of Humans on Conservation

The Importance of Biodiversity

Conservation amidst Human-Wildlife Conflict

One Health Concerns

Wildlife Crime & Conservation

Placing Humans in the Ecological Equation

Wildlife Management and Ecotourism

II. Forensics & Conservation

The Intersection of Forensics and Conservation- (Intro to conservation forensics)

Processing the Wildlife Crime Scene

Evidence of Forensic Importance in Wildlife Cases

III. Tools & Techniques of Conservation Forensics

The Conservation of Threatened & Endangered Species

The Application of Forensic Entomology and Carrion Ecology

Wildlife Forensic Genetics

Wildlife Forensic Toxicology

Wildlife Forensic Pathology

Working Dogs in Conservation Forensics

IV. Special Topics:

Fish, Reptiles and Marine Mammals - Issues and Identification

Avian Species - Issues and Identification

Mammals - Issues and Identification

DNA Databases?

Isotopic Analysis

Cybercrime and Wildlife Products

Developments in Wildlife Forensic Standards

Wildlife Law and Legal Concerns

V. Case Studies

Saving Africa's Elephants (include forensics)

Rhinos in Crisis (include forensics)

Mountain Gorillas, a conservation success story (may include forensics)

Few other case studies to represent multiple geographic regions, types of species, and how forensics has been utilized whether it be genetics, crime scene, database, pathology etc:

North America

Central/South America

Europe - birds of prey; bird hunting (Scotland)

Asia

Australia/NZ - 1080 poisonings

Susan Underkoffler, MFS, holds an Associates of Fine Arts degree, two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Conservation Biology and Scientific Illustration from Arcadia University and a Master of Forensic Science degree from Drexel University College of Medicine. She has spent over ten years as a professional and consultant applying forensic and criminalistic techniques to the investigation of domestic animal, livestock and wildlife crimes, working with companion animal, environmental and wildlife organizations and agencies. For many years she was an environmental scientist, performing wetland delineations, site assessments, and wildlife and habitat evaluations and monitoring and prior to that she researched vaccine development using molecular biotechnology approaches with plants as vector systems. She is currently Director of the Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation graduate program at the University of Florida.

Susan has traveled nationally and internationally as an investigator, trainer, and educator for wildlife and animal cruelty investigations and has conducted published international research in several African countries. Her artwork and illustrations have received numerous awards and have been featured in many scientific publications and private collections. A passionate science communicator, she enjoys bringing to life her background, experiences and commitment to conservation through her art.

Hayley R. Adams, DVM, PhD, DACVPM, DACVM, has over 20 years of experience in wildlife veterinary medicine, conservation, and issues related to One Health in Africa. She created a charitable organization, Silent Heroes Foundation, in 2010 as a way of contributing to conservation & One Health efforts in Africa. In 2020 she converted Silent Heroes into a private foundation that provides small grants to support innovative and conscious conservation and One Health initiatives globally. She is a veterinarian and has a PhD in wildlife epidemiology and virology. She is a board-certified Diplomate in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine and the American College of Veterinary Microbiology. She teaches conservation medicine and related courses at the University of Florida, Department of Wildlife Forensic Sciences and Conservation. She is an author with her first book, Conscious Conservation: Less Doing, More Being, and is currently working on her first novel about indigenous people living at the interface with wildlife.