wildlife veterinary program africa

2026 Global Conservation Force | Professional Development Courses

Global Conservation Force (GCF) is excited to announce our series of immersive, hands-on conservation training courses for 2026! Designed to provide participants with critical skills and education, these programs offer a unique opportunity to contribute directly to wildlife protection efforts while experiencing the diverse beauty of South Africa.

partners and collaborations

Mike Veale Shares Global Conservation K9 Insights at Thames Valley Police Training Center

GCF's Mike Veale, recently presented at the Thames Valley Police Training Center, engaging an international audience of working dog trainers, handlers, police K9 officers, and program leaders from England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, and the United States. Mike’s presentation focused on the critical role of K9 teams in wildlife protection, conservation, and counter wildlife trafficking operations. Drawing from GCF’s global experience, he highlighted the importance of parallel initiatives that complement dog handling—including targeted operational strategies, multi-tiered training programs for both dogs and handlers, and best practices for achieving total operational readiness.

Podcast

Coffee & Conservation: Rita Santas on Conservation K9s, Dogs for Nature, and Building Capacity in the Field

In the latest episode of Coffee & Conservation, Mike sits down with Rita Santas, conservation K9 handler and founder-owner of Dogs for Nature in Portugal, to talk about her journey into working dogs for conservation, the realities of deploying K9 teams in the field, and the changes needed to strengthen conservation and wildlife protection globally.

Blog

2025 Rhino Poaching Numbers, South Africa: Progress, Pressure Points, and the Path Forward

16% Decline in Rhino Poaching in South Africa 10 February 2026   South Africa recorded a 16% decline in rhino poaching in 2025, a significant milestone in the ongoing fight […]

Projects

Sponsored Ranger Gear Arrives in Panama: A First Step Toward Long-Term Conservation Impact

Global Conservation Force is proud to share that a new shipment of sponsored ranger gear has officially arrived in Panama, marking an important first step in a broader, long-term conservation initiative in the region. This critical delivery ensures that frontline rangers have the tools they need to protect wildlife, monitor threats, and operate more safely and effectively in the field.

Rhinos

Love With Purpose This Valentine’s Day

This Valentine’s Day, skip the ordinary and give a gift that protects what you love.

Professional Development Course

K9 Handler & Operational K9 Training Course Wrap-Up | Netherlands

From January 12–23, 2026, Global Conservation Force delivered an intensive K9 Handler & Operational K9 Training Course in the Netherlands, bringing together instructors, professional participants, and operational K9 teams for two weeks of immersive, real-world training focused on wildlife conservation, wildlife protection, and counter-wildlife trafficking operations. Led by Mike Veale (Founder & President, Global Conservation Force) alongside Wesley Visscher and the Scent Imprint Conservation Dogs team, the course was intentionally designed to function as both a conservation professional development program and a train-the-trainer—equipping participants to elevate their own operational capacity while gaining the tools to develop K9 teams and handlers in their home countries.

partners and collaborations

Big Safari Fun for Little Paws: P.L.A.Y.’s Mini Elephant Gives Back to Wildlife

Big Safari Fun for Little Paws: P.L.A.Y.’s Mini Elephant Gives Back to Wildlife Bring the magic of the African savanna home with P.L.A.Y.’s Big Five of Africa Elephant Mini Toy—a […]