Protecting endangered wildlife requires a special kind of hero; one who can navigate the labyrinth of challenges wildlife face with a unique brand of courage and optimism, immense stamina, and a nimbleness to adapt to constantly fluctuating political and cultural landscapes. These individuals need to be forward thinkers and out-of-the-box problem solvers. Like marathon runners, they need to be adept at clearing hurdles with patience, unwavering determination, and a forward eye toward the larger picture.
The WCN Scholarship Program was founded eleven years ago to discover and nurture such individuals, so they can one day take up the fight for wildlife in their home countries. Since then, WCN has provided 88 graduate level scholarships to incredible young women and men across 31 countries, from Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. This year eight scholarships were awarded to individuals dedicated to protecting species as wide ranging as fishing cats, spotted hyenas, and turtles.
The scholarship program enables these emerging conservationists to learn new skills with their peers, share ideas, and make lifelong connections. In turn, WCN has been able to expand our conservation efforts across continents and species, thereby making a larger impact worldwide.
We look forward to expanding the WCN Scholarship Program and supporting many more generations of wildlife conservationists.
2017 Scholarship Recipients
Martial Kiki
Country: Republic of Benin
Species: West African lion, spotted hyaena
Ph.D. in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
University of Florida
Sydney Byers Scholarship
Read his story
Thaís Queiroz Morcatty
Country: Brazil
Species: jaguar, ocelot, puma, and Brazilian snake-necked turtle
Ph.D. in Anthropology and Geography
Oxford Brookes University
Sydney Byers Scholarship
Read her story
Suraj Upadhaya
Country: Nepal
Species: Snow leopard
Ph.D. in Integrative Conservation of Nature and Forestry
University of Georgia
Sydney Byers Scholarship
Read his story
Rabin Kadariya
Country: Nepal
Species: Asiatic black bear, tiger, and Asian Elephant
Ph.D. in Wildlife Biology and Medicine
Hokkaido University, Japan
Sydney Byers Scholarship
Read his story
Krystelle Lavaki
Country: Fiji
Species: Marine species, in particular coral reef fish
M.Sc. in Marine Science
The University of the South Pacific
WCS-WCN Joint Scholarship
Read her story
Joseph Lopsala Letoole
Country: Kenya
Species: Grevy’s zebra
M.A. in Environmental Law
University of Nairobi
Sydney Byers Scholarship
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Aristide Takoukam Kamla
Country: Cameroon
Species: African manatee
Ph.D. in Large Animal Clinical Sciences
University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine
Pat J. Miller Scholarship
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Anya Ratnayaka
Country: Sri Lanka
Species: Fishing cat, rusty-spotted cat, and jungle cat
M.Phil. in Environmental Management
University of Queensland
Handsel Scholarship
Read her story