Wildlife in Vernacular (stylised Wild Vernac) exists to improve linguistic accessibility in opportunities to learn about South African wildlife. The initiative was started by Dr Fortunate Mafeta Phaka in 2020 as a way of sharing the outcomes of his research on people and wildlife interactions beyond his peers in the scientific community. The vernacular in this initiative's title refers to the mother tongue and the Indigenous practices of South Africans that involve wildlife. South Africa's multilingualism should be reflected in educational materials about the country's diverse wildlife, while the complex relationship between wildlife and cultural heritage should be reflected in biodiversity conservation approaches.