The Wildlife Translocation Association (WTA) is an association not for gain that represents the wildlife translocation industry in South Africa.

The Wildlife Translocation Association is a voluntary association of professional game capturers and associated role-players within the industry. Its members are drawn from both the private sector and the government service. The game capture industry in South Africa has an annual turnover well in excess of R100 million and provides employment for a significant numbers of employees. The WTA’s members annually capture and translocate approximately 130 000 game animals.

The Wildlife Translocation Association was founded to facilitate liaison between private enterprise and the nature conservation authorities by adopting a cooperative approach towards improving the professional and ethical standards within the industry. The interests of the industry are best served through a process of self-regulation, the WTA is making a determined effort to improve the expertise of the profession through training and the acquisition of appropriate qualifications.

Goals

In its efforts to improve professionalism and streamline various functions relating to the state's mandate to control the industry, the WTA is in the process of:

•  Entering into contractual agreements with the provincial conservation authorities in order to streamline the issue of permits, implement official conservation policies and address animal welfare issues.
•  Following a co-operative approach with nature conservation to grade capture equipment and facilities.
•  Assisting tertiary education institutions to develop a syllabus and a qualification for wildlife managers and game capturers that will train them in the art and science of safely and humanely handling wild animals. Particular emphasis will be placed on the use of veterinary pharmaceuticals as a necessary tool for the translocation of wild animals.
•  Improving the operating ethics and professionalism of private game capture units.
•  Ensuring that animal welfare issues are satisfactorily addressed.
•  Developing national norms and standards for the construction of wild herbivore holding pens and transport vehicles.