SYMCO is an International Symposium on Wildlife Utilisation (ISWU) which was first staged in South Africa in 1986 and has become an institution in International Veterinary circles ever since.

It is a biannual symposium dealing with Veterinary involvement in wildlife management, and serves as a platform for leading speakers, in the fields of Veterinary and Natural Sciences, to address Veterinary students from a host of Veterinary faculties worldwide.

The Symposium normally consists of a 14-16 day conference workshop, and caters for approximately 80 local and international delegates in total, and maintains a balance between lectures on pertinent wildlife issues, and excursions/practicals. This enables the delegates to witness many of the practical aspects of the topics discussed. Examples of practical interaction will include game (wildlife) capture/immobilisation, disease control, and their economic implications.

The next SYMCO will take place in 2008 and all enquiries should be directed to the symposium committee, on e-mail: symco@op.up.ac.za