Past Scholars

Michael Akrasi of Ghana is pursuing a master’s degree at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. His thesis is focused on studying the ecology of and assessing threats to white-bellied pangolins in Ghana. His aim is that his work will be used to engage with national wildlife authorities to develop and implement an action plan for the species. It will also feed directly into Herp-Ghana’s pangolin recovery program in the Togo-Volta highlands. In the future, Michael’s goal is to lead the mammal recovery program in the Onepone Endangered Species Refuge to restore habitats as well as original populations of mammals that existed in the reserve. He aims to engage communities to protect wildlife habitats through the establishment of legally declared community-based protected areas in key biodiversity hotspots.

Awarded  the Sidney Byers Scholarship

Location: Ghana
University: Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Juan Sebastian Ayala Giraldo of Colombia is planning to pursue an MBA at ICESI University in Colombia. With a background in sea turtle conservation, the skills he gains from this MBA program will allow him to develop and implement ecotourism programs at the national level and to promote circular economy ideas for local communities, with the end goal of better protection for sea turtles and secure livelihoods for local residents.

Awarded the Sydney Byers Scholarship

Location: Colombia
University: ICESI University

Hasita Bhammar of India is pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Oxford. Her research will estimate the impact of human-wildlife conflict (HWC) on local economies around targeted protected areas through measuring the direct, indirect and induced costs of HWC – most studies now look only at direct costs. Her goal is to identify activities that can be strengthened or transformed at the local level so that benefits from wildlife always exceed the costs to communities, thus incentivizing communities to support conservation. Hasita’s career ambition is to strategically refine the systems approach to protected areas (PA) management and facilitate innovative co-management and delegated management models for conservation in South Asia.

Awarded a Sydney Byers Scholarship

Location: India
University: University of Oxford

Grace Cheptoo of Kenya will be pursuing her master’s degree in Environmental Observation & Informatics through the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her research will focus on determining leopard abundance in the Greater Mara Ecosystem, understanding community perceptions towards leopards, and identifying human-wildlife conflicts associated with leopards. Grace hopes to develop this into a longer-term project on leopard monitoring, as this species remains understudied in the wild. She is also interested in empowering other young girls and women to pursue careers in conservation and the geospatial industry.

Awarded the Handsel Scholarship

Location: Kenya
University: University of Wisconsin

Florencia Chiapero of Argentina is still in the process of applying to degree programs. Her planned dissertation topic addresses the impacts of different conservation strategies on the ecology and interaction of Patagonian carnivores, with special emphasis on Andean cat populations. Her research will contribute to the continued development of AGA’s Conflict Mitigation Program by generating applied conservation outcomes with a specific focus on the use of livestock guarding dogs and the environmental impact of that practice.

Awarded the Sydney Byers Scholarship

Location: Argentina

Jamal Galves of Belize plans to pursue a master’s degree through the Coastal Science & Policy program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. His thesis will highlight the endangered Antillean manatee as a flagship species to protect critical coastal habitats from unsustainable development and degradation in Belize, with a focus on his hometown of Gales Point. In the future, Jamal hopes to build a coalition of grassroots marine conservation organizations to lead the marine conservation efforts in Belize, so that conservation can be led by local Belizeans rather than reliant on international organizations.

Awarded the Handsel Scholarship

Location: Belize
University: University of California, Santa Cruz

Dr. Huguette Kamavu Glody of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is planning to pursue a master’s degree from the Institute for Game and Wildlife Research (IREC) at Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas in Spain. She plans to focus her research on investigating the prevalence of respiratory diseases in Grauer’s gorillas and human beings at Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the DRC, with a specific focus on COVID-19. After completing her degree, Huguette plans to apply her acquired skills to her role as senior veterinarian at the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center, and to use her research to help with the conservation of other great ape species as well, especially for habituated groups of apes for whom transmission of respiratory diseases from humans is a particularly high risk.

Awarded the WCN Veterinary Scholarship

Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo
University: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Dr. Asma Hersi of Somalia is planning to pursue a postgraduate diploma on international wildlife conservation practice through the University of Oxford. She currently works with CCF in Somaliland, where cheetahs are threatened by the illegal wildlife trade, and cares for confiscated individuals – many of whom are susceptible to disease such as feline coronavirus (FCoV). Asma plans to focus her research on the prevalence of FCoV in both captive cheetahs and cheetahs in the wild. In the future, she hopes to work towards efficient public reform of wildlife extension services to protect rare species in Somaliland in order to boost the economy and tourism. Asma also hopes to be involved in management and decision-making in Somaliland in the future through a ministry position, in order to build strong and effective in-country institutions that can improve the state of livestock and wildlife.

Awarded the WCN Veterinary Scholarship

Location: Somalia
University: University of Oxford

Herdhanu Jayanto of Indonesia is planning to pursue a master’s degree at the New Mexico Highlands University under the supervision of Kyle J. Shaney of the Tomistoma Task Force, IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist Group. He will focus his research on conservation and new ecology of both false gharial (Tomistoma) and Siamese crocodile. Herdhanu’s long-term goal is to grow the NGO he started, which focuses on the conservation of the critically endangered Siamese crocodile and false gharial, and establish an inclusive community-based conservation that is directly linked with livelihood development for the people who live surrounding the field sites.

Awarded the Pat J. Miller Scholarship

Location: Indonesia
University: New Mexico Highlands University

Kinley of Bhutan is pursuing his master’s degree at the University of Greifswald (Germany). His research focuses on the movement ecology, home range, and habitat selection by the Rufous-necked hornbill, with the goal of using this data to develop a science-based, robust conservation action plan for the species. Kinley will rejoin Tsirang Forest Division under the Department of Forest and Park Services in Bhutan after completing his degree, applying his newfound skills to conservation issues impacting wildlife and local communities in Bhutan. He is interested in raising awareness about wildlife conservation and its benefits, especially in remote areas, and developing ways to reduce human-wildlife conflict. He also has plans to explore alternative livelihood opportunities for local farmers, with a particular focus on ecotourism to encourage forest and hornbill conservation. Kinley is also an active commission member of IUCN SSC Hornbill Specialist Croup, IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group and IUCN SSC Red List Authority.

Awarded the Handsel Scholarship

Location: Bhutan
University: University of Greifswald

Naing Lin of Myanmar is pursuing a master’s degree at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent. His goal is to work in Myanmar to conserve the landscape in partnership with local communities for the benefit of the great breadth of biodiversity across his country – from the famous charismatic megafauna species such as tigers and elephants, to the lesser-known species such as fishing cats, which are a flagship species for freshwater ecosystems.

Awarded the WCN-WCS Joint Scholarship

Location: Myanmar
University: University of Kent

Christopher Mbisana of Botswana is planning to pursue a master’s degree in the Wildlife, Sustainability, and Ecosystem Services Department through a joint program at Texas A&M and Tarleton State University in Texas. His thesis will be focused on cheetahs in the western Kalahari area of Botswana, and on understanding and supporting human-wildlife coexistence in agricultural systems. He aims to monitor wildlife and livestock species around communities through spoor surveys and camera traps; to assess human wildlife interactions and their effects on each other; and to quantify farmer carnivore conflict to further understand impacts and potential solutions. After completing his degree, Christopher plans to continue working in the Kalahari area with CCB, helping local communities maintain and drive themselves sustainably in management of the land, generate revenue from their environment, and develop their communities.

Awarded a Pat J. Miller Scholarship

Location: Botswana
University: Texas A&M and Tarleton State University

Dennis Minja of Tanzania is pursuing his PhD at the University of Glasgow (Scotland). His research will focus on the influence of habitat and anthropogenic pressures on cheetah hunting success and habitat use in the Serengeti ecosystem. Dennis’ goal is to expand cheetah conservation work across Tanzania, as relatively little is known about cheetah status outside of protected areas. He hopes to work with park managers to advise them on how best to manage ecosystem services, like grazing and wildlife tourism, while also considering the needs of cheetahs and other key threatened carnivore species, as well as their wild prey.

Awarded the Sidney Byers Scholarship

Location: Tanzania
University: University of Glasgow

Rama Mishra of Nepal is pursuing her PhD at the University of Antwerp, with her research focusing on the ecology and behavior of fishing cats. Her research will holistically investigate aspects of the biology, behavior, and the human dimension of fishing cat conservation and contribute to an improved understanding of the species and its current status in Nepal – a country in which the species is poorly studied and understood. In the future, Rama plans to keep working with WildCAN, the organization she co-founded to promote wildlife conservation in Nepal, and she hopes to work at the policy level as well to conduct landscape-level wildlife management and conservation in partnership with local communities.

Awarded the Pat J. Miller Scholarship

Location: Nepal
University: University of Antwerp

Fenrick Msigwa of Tanzania is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics at Sokoine University of Agriculture in Morogoro-Tanzania. His research explores local people’s perspectives on wildlife utilization, focusing on trophy hunting and bushmeat trade in villages adjacent to the Ruaha-Rungwa ecosystem. His research findings will be used to improve wildlife conservation in Tanzania through providing appropriate recommendations and proposing community interventions for tackling illegal bushmeat trade and unsustainable methods of utilizing wildlife. Fenrick hopes to be a wildlife conservationist specializing in political ecology with an emphasis on wildlife trade research and conservation economic perspectives, exploring the new realities of wildlife conservation in Tanzania.

Awarded a Sydney Byers Scholarship

Location: Tanzania
University: Sokoine University of Agriculture

Dr. Ny Aina Tiana Rakotoarisoa of Madagascar plans to pursue a master’s degree in conservation medicine from Tufts University. Her research will focus on monitoring the health of radiated tortoises after their release through a reintroduction program in Madagascar, including any impact on the native population of tortoises and the overall ecological health of the surrounding habitat. In the future, Ny Aina hopes to open and manage a veterinary service center for wildlife medicine and science in Madagascar – currently, there are very few veterinarians who work with wildlife in the country. 

Awarded the WCN Veterinary Scholarship

Location: Madagascar
University: Tufts University

Jean Fernando Randriamiajason of Madagascar plans to pursue an applied training program focused on ocean governance, policy, law, and management. He plans to use the skills gained from this program to better perform his role at Blue Ventures, where he works daily with fishers and fishing communities in some of the most remote parts of the country. His goal is to help give the Vezo people of Madagascar a voice to tell their stories, and he is interested in learning more about the interconnection of governance, fisheries and human rights, in order to turn these voices into action, laws, and reality.

Awarded the Handsel Scholarship

Location: Madagascar

Dr. Tony Nambinina Natacha Rasolozaka (Dr. Rasolozaka Tony Nambinina Natacha) is planning to pursue a Master of Veterinary Science in Conservation Medicine through the University of Edinburgh. Her master’s thesis will focus on the disease transmission cycles affecting the Madagascar pochard, an endemic and critically endangered waterbird. Using a One Health approach, she intends to determine what role various factors, including infectious agents, play in the observed high mortality rate of wild ducklings. This information will be used to guide future conservation efforts for the species, as well as to better understand the epidemiology of emerging wildlife and zoonotic diseases in Madagascar and how best to control disease outbreaks.

Awarded the WCN Veterinary Scholarship

Location: Madagascar
University: University of Edinburgh

Antso Razakafamantanantsoa of Madagascar is planning to use the scholarship funding for an applied training course through Ambios in the UK and to complete his master’s degree at University of Mahajanga in Madagascar. He will focus his research on the effect of habitat quality on the survival of the Verreaux’s sifaka (a medium-sized primate species in the lemur family) population in Kirindy-Mité National Park in western Madagascar. In the future, he hopes to run his own conservation organization that focuses on conservation of the Verreaux’s sifaka and works with local communities to make sure their voices are heard in the management of protected areas.

Awarded  the Pat J. Miller Scholarship

Location: Madagascar
University: University of Mahajanga

Justine Robert of Tanzania is planning to pursue a Master of Science in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management from the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology in Tanzania. The focus of his research will be evaluating the effectiveness of conservation incentives in mitigating human-wildlife conflict in Tanzania. Justine himself is Masai and grew up in a pastoralist family, and his goal is to work with communities to ensure peaceful coexistence between people and wildlife.

Awarded the Sydney Byers Scholarship

Location: Tanzania
University: Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology

Tania Romero Bautista of Peru is pursuing her PhD at Florida International University. Her doctoral research aims to a) make conservation and sustainable development strategies more practical and accessible to communities in Peru’s Marañon watershed (Peruvian Amazon); b) guide policymakers in how to design and implement more comprehensive, integrative regulations for community-based freshwater management; and c) support the conservation of ecologically important freshwater species such as the endangered Amazon river dolphin. Her overall goal is to provide support and advocate for the rights of Amazonian communities and the preservation of endemic and endangered freshwater species.

Awarded a Sydney Byers Scholarship

Location: Peru
University: Florida International University

Albert Salemgareyev of Kazakhstan is planning to pursue a master’s degree at Swedish University of Agricultural Science. His research will focus on building an understanding of the migration behavior of saigas, influencing factors such as climate change, and impacts of migration barriers (such as border fences and railroads) to better inform future conservation and management. Albert is already one of Kazakhstan’s foremost voices on saiga conservation through his role at the Association for the Conservation of Biodiversity Kazakhstan (ACBK) – the skills he gains through this master’s program will help him fill some critical knowledge gaps in his country. He plans to continue his role with ACBK after completing his degree, working to protect saiga by advising the government, developing conservation management plans, and monitoring the impact of conservation initiatives and management decisions on wildlife.

Awarded the Handsel Scholarship

Location: Kazakhstan
University: Swedish University of Agricultural Science

Dr. Frédéric Stéphane Singa Niatou of the Central African Republic is planning to pursue an applied training course through the Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center’s (LPRC) Capacity-Building Program for African Veterinarians. This program combines theoretical sessions with practical work in the LPRC sanctuary, in the neighboring Kahuzi-Biega National Park (DRC), and in an animal shelter in the nearby city of Bukavu. Frédéric intends to use the skills gained through this training back home in the Central African Republic, where he hopes to become a senior veterinarian at Dzanga-Sangha National Park and to work to conserve great apes in his home country using a One Health approach.

Awarded the WCN Veterinary Scholarship

Location: Central African Republic
University: Lwiro Primate Rehabilitation Center’s (LPRC) Capacity-Building Program for African Veterinarians

Carine Uwamahoro of Rwanda is pursuing her master’s degree in wildlife and livestock production, management, and conservation at the Czech University of Life Science, Prague. Her master’s research focuses on cryptosporidium, giardia and microsporidia infections in wild great apes, using samples collected through her role at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund (DFGF), where she plans to continue working after graduation. The laboratory skills in molecular techniques and data analysis that Carine is gaining in this program are scare in Rwanda, and with the planned opening of the new state-of-the-art Ellen Degeneres Campus at DFGF, Carine’s skills will be put to good use in managing these new labs and thus helping to protect gorillas in the long-term.

Awarded the WCN Veterinary Scholarship

Location: Rwanda
University: Czech University of Life Science

Mariam Weston Flores of Mexico is planning to pursue a master’s degree in conservation leadership from the University of Cambridge. She plans to focus her studies and her future work on understanding and mitigating threats to small Mexican wild cats through sustainable solutions, environmental education, and community-based conservation strategies.

Awarded a Sydney Byers Scholarship

Location: Mexico
University: University of Cambridge

Dr. Adiya Yadamsuren of Mongolia is planning to pursue an applied training in veterinary medicine at the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic. He works in an incredibly remote location in Mongolia as the manager for the WCPF Breeding Center, which focuses on conservation and reintroduction of the critically endangered wild camel (Camelus ferus). Essentially, Adiya already fills the role of a veterinarian without the official degree (his PhD was focused on habitat suitability for wild camels). This training will greatly improve his veterinary skills, which are critical in order to effectively care for animals and respond to emergencies at the center. The training program includes the sedation of ungulate species, darting, handling, storage and administration of veterinary drugs, autopsy procedures and autopsy samples and transport, genetic and disease controls. For example, he will be able to better diagnose illnesses; look after the wild camel calves that are born each spring; supervise the treatment of wounds incurred during the winter months when the wild camels fight and mate; carry out autopsies on dead animals; and, overall, take responsibility for wild camel animal welfare.

Awarded the WCN Veterinary Scholarship

Location: Mongolia