Scholarship Program | Wildlife Conservation Network

Empowering the next generation of conservation heroes.

WCN Scholarship Program

The WCN Scholarship program was founded in 2006 to discover and nurture emerging young conservationists so they can one day take up the fight for wildlife.

WCN scholars are the future of conservation. These students from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America are committed to working on wildlife conservation in their home countries. They are forward thinkers and out-of-the-box problem solvers, able to navigate the labyrinth of challenges they face protecting endangered wildlife with courage, optimism, stamina, and a nimbleness to adapt to constantly fluctuating political and cultural landscapes—always keeping an eye on the bigger picture.

If you are an interested applicant, please email scholarship@wildnet.org for more information. Note that you must be nominated by a pre-approved/eligible nominator. The call for nominations will open in October of each year, and it will NOT be listed publicly.

Support Our Scholars

Impact by the numbers

128

graduate level scholarships provided to incredible young women and men across 42 countries since the program's inception

scholars awarded scholarships in 2020 to pursue their education

Meet Our 2020 Scholars

Shaleen Angwenyi

African painted dog

Shaleen Angwenyi

Shaleen Angwenyi of Kenya is planning to pursue a master’s degree from the University of Bristol in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation. Through this program she will build her skills in both research methods and practical conservation techniques in wildlife care, rehabilitation, diseases, captive wildlife management and wildlife conservation. She plans to focus her thesis on the investigation of canine distempter in African painted dogs (Lycaon pictus) in northern Kenya. She will work through the lens of the One Health approach, looking at the interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, and humans to guide future conservation management of endangered species.

Awarded a WCN Veterinary Scholarship.

Location: Kenya
University: University of Bristol

Gabriel Antwi-Boasiako

African elephants, slender-snouted crocodiles, dwarf crocodiles, pangolins

Gabriel Antwi-Boasiako

Gabriel Antwi-Boasiako of Ghana is pursuing an MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge. His thesis focuses on effective community-based management strategies for sturgeon conservation in the country of Georgia. He plans to use the skills developed during his program to become a conservation leader in his home country of Ghana, with a particular focus on African elephants, slender-snouted crocodiles, dwarf crocodiles, pangolins, and the illegal wildlife trade, using both community-based conservation and social and behavioral change communication (SBCC).

Awarded a Pat J. Miller Scholarship.

Location: Ghana
University: University of Cambridge

Kambwiri Banda

Lion

Kambwiri Banda

Kambwiri Banda of Zambia is planning to pursue a master’s degree at the Swedish Agricultural University looking at the demographic impacts of snared lion rescue through prompt veterinary intervention. Kambwiri holds a full-time position with the Zambian Carnivore Programme, acting as both a field-based veterinarian (of which there are few in Africa) and a research ecologist. The ecology degree will help him better understand the wildlife biology that is necessary when handling wildlife from the veterinary perspective, both for immobilization and during wildlife movement. His hope is that he will inspire more veterinarians to pursue opportunities in the field working with wildlife.

Awarded a WCN Veterinary Scholarship.

Location: Zambia
University: Swedish Agricultural University

Charles Emogor

White-bellied pangolin

Charles Emogor

Charles Emogor of Nigeria is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge, focusing on combining ecological and social surveys to generate valuable information on the distribution, home range size, off take and local perception (including possible management interventions) of the white-bellied pangolin. This will then be used to inform anti-poaching patrols and conservation education for pangolins. His work also aims to understand the local consumption and demand for pangolins in the Cross River National Park region (Nigeria). This will be the first pangolin-centered project in Cross River, which, given Nigeria’s notorious role in the pangolin trade, underscores the importance and timeliness of this work. Ultimately, Charles plans for his work to inform behavior-change interventions and enforcement actions against the trade.

Awarded the joint WCN-WCS Scholarship

Location: Nigeria
University: University of Cambridge

Paul Hatanga

Chimpanzees, Ugandan mangabey

Paul Hatanga

Paul Hatanga of Uganda is pursuing his master’s in environmental management from the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies at Yale University. His research has focused on examine the effect of road construction on ecosystem services important for local communities including water and biodiversity in Uganda’s Murchison-Semliki landscape. The road he is studying – a 100km road from Kabwooya to Kyenjojo–passes the perimeter of Bugoma Forest Reserve (a Key Biodiversity Area) and bisects Kagombe Forest Reserve, areas home to a large population of chimpanzees and the endemic Ugandan mangabey. His goals are to use the skills and connections from his master’s program to a) promote applied conservation and community development in human-dominated chimpanzee conservation landscapes; and b) enable conservationists and policy makers to reconcile development and conservation goals.

Awarded a Sydney Byers Scholarship.

Location: Uganda
University: Yale University

Tarik Kabir

Western hoolock gibbon

Tarik Kabir

Tarik Kabir of Bangladesh will be starting a Ph.D. program at the Universiti Sains Malaysia, focusing on the western hoolock gibbon and behavioral adaptations that allow species to survive in fragmented, degraded, and human-dominated landscapes. He’ll be looking at a) how habitat characteristics and degree of fragmentation impact the population size of hoolock gibbon; b) assessing the age-sex group composition of the gibbons; c) determining the behavioral and ecological responses due the degree of habitat fragmentation; and d) assessing the preferable food items and seasonal variation of feeding availability for the species – with the end goal of developing a Western Hoolock Gibbon Conservation Action Plan based on his findings.

Awarded a Sydney Byers Scholarship.

Location: Bangladesh
University: Universiti Sains Malaysia

Herbert Kasozi

Rothschild’s giraffe

Herbert Kasozi

Herbert Kasozi of Uganda is pursuing a Ph.D. through the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at the University of Michigan. His research his focused on evaluating factors that influence the occurrence, distribution, and survival of the Rothschild’s giraffe in Murchison Falls National Park (MFNP), Uganda – including stressors related to humans and the current oil exploration happening inside MFNP. He hopes to use the results of his research to influence management of the species in the park. Herbert is also particularly passionate about inspiring the rising generation of Ugandans to become involved in wildlife conservation.

Awarded a Handsel Scholarship.

Location: Uganda
University: University of Michigan

Ambika Prasad Khatiwada

Chinese pangolin

Ambika Prasad Khatiwada

Ambika Prasad Khatiwada of Nepal is pursuing a Ph.D. from the University of Oviedo, Spain. His thesis, entitled “People and Pangolins: Ecology and Conservation of Pangolins in Nepal,” focuses on the critically endangered Chinese pangolin, and he aims to determine whether improved knowledge and understanding of the conservation status and significance of the species is likely to change local people’s behavior with respect to illegal hunting of pangolins.

Awarded a Sydney Byers Scholarship.

Location: Nepal
University: University of Oviedo, Spain

Masud Lahut

Baluchistan black bear

Masud Lahut

Masud Lahut of Iran is pursuing his doctorate at Arak University, focusing on the conservation and management of Baluchistan black bear in Iran, a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear. The species is endangered on the national level due to poaching and habitat destruction – there are estimated to only be around 60 left in Iran. Masud intends to focus his research on obtaining base ecological data – species activity behavior, home range – as well as the reasons for conflict between humans and bears and how to address it. He aims to engage local community members both to learn technical skills as citizen scientists (camera trapping, satellite tracking) and build awareness to change mindsets towards conservation – in schools, mosques, and cultural centers. His longer term goal is to start an NGO focused on Asiatic black bear conservation.

Awarded a Sydney Byers Scholarship.

Location: Iran
University: Arak University

Patrick Okello

Lion and cheetah

Patrick Okello

Patrick Okello of Uganda is planning to pursue an online master’s degree through the University of Edinburgh. His studies will focus on the impact of certain zoonotic diseases on lion and cheetah populations in Murchison Falls and Kidepo Valley National Parks in Uganda, as well as how the diseases affect both domestic animals and humans through the One Health approach. He plans to pursue the creation of a local community carnivore conservation program (CCCP) to a) mitigate threats to wildlife through community decision making; and b) institute control measures, like vaccination programs for diseases that pose threats to wildlife, domestic animals, and humans.

Awarded a WCN Veterinary Scholarship.

Location: Uganda
University: University of Edinburgh

Ando Rabearisoa

Hawksbill sea turtle

Ando Rabearisoa

Ando Rabearisoa of Madagascar is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Cruz, focusing on Hawksbill sea turtle conservation by evaluating the effectiveness of Locally- Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) in the Western Indian Ocean. This involves quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating whether these established LMMAs are meeting their conservation and socioeconomic goals, and subsequently using that information to a) better understand enabling conditions for successful LMMAs; b) identify communities where further LMMA creation is most appropriate; and c) improve existing LMMAs.

Awarded a Handsel Scholarship.

Location: Madagascar
University: University of California, Santa Cruz

Tapologo Connie Sebati

Cheetah

Tapologo Connie Sebati

Tapologo Connie Sebati of Botswana will be pursuing an online M.A. in Development Studies from the University of South Africa. Her thesis will focus on integrating gender into conservation by rethinking and recognizing the role of women in wildlife conservation and livelihood activities. Her study seeks to understand whether women are willing to participate in the conservation strategies designed for them; Connie will investigate women’s attitudes and behavior towards cheetah and carnivore conservation and explore the connections between gender, wildlife use, and livelihoods, with the overall goal of making sure women’s voices are heard. Connie has been working with CCB for the past ten years and has played a key role in their educational activities and in developing and expanding the Farmers’ Network.

Awarded a Sydney Byers Scholarship.

Location: Botswana
University: University of South Africa

Mario Sneyder Jimenez Segura

Great green macaw

Mario Sneyder Jimenez Segura

Mario Sneyder Jimenez Segura of Costa Rica plans to pursue an MSc in Conservation Project Management at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, focusing on nesting success of the great green macaw in nest boxes versus wild nest sites. In the future, he plans to explore alternative livelihood opportunities for local farmers, with a particular focus on ecotourism to encourage land and forest conservation – the idea being that the farmer can then earn an income by working to conserve the macaws. Mario has been working with the Macaw Recovery Network (formerly the Ara Project) since 2017 and is now the Field Team leader, monitoring macaws and training and managing teams of volunteers and interns.

Awarded a Pat J. Miller Scholarship.

Location: Costa Rica
University: University of Kent

Zhi Yi Teoh

Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin

Zhi Yi Teoh

Zhi Yi (Sandra) Teoh of Malaysia, is pursuing a Ph.D. in Ecology and Biodiversity at the University of Malaya, focusing on the social ecology of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. Her research aims to assess the function of humpback dolphin communities, their movement and habitat use in Langkawi, Malaysia, and its adjacent Perlis-Kedah waters, as well as the overlap with and impact from human activities in these shallow coastal waters. Her overall goal is to use the results of her research to influence policy and conservation action at the governmental level – including implementation of a) vessel speed limit zones in the dolphins’ core areas; b) a boating Code of Conduct (COC) to which tour operators and recreational boaters must adhere; and c) marine mammal sanctuaries.

Awarded the Steven K. Beckendorf Scholarship.

Location: University of Malaya
University: University of Kent

Shaleen Angwenyi

Shaleen Angwenyi of Kenya is planning to pursue a master’s degree from the University of Bristol in Global Wildlife Health and Conservation. Through this program she will build her skills...

Gabriel Antwi-Boasiako

Gabriel Antwi-Boasiako of Ghana is pursuing an MPhil in Conservation Leadership from the University of Cambridge. His thesis focuses on effective community-based management strategies for sturgeon conservation in the country...

Kambwiri Banda

Kambwiri Banda of Zambia is planning to pursue a master’s degree at the Swedish Agricultural University looking at the demographic impacts of snared lion rescue through prompt veterinary intervention. Kambwiri...

Charles Emogor

Charles Emogor of Nigeria is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge, focusing on combining ecological and social surveys to generate valuable information on the distribution, home range size,...

Paul Hatanga

Paul Hatanga of Uganda is pursuing his master’s in environmental management from the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies at Yale University. His research has focused on examine the effect of...

Tarik Kabir

Tarik Kabir of Bangladesh will be starting a Ph.D. program at the Universiti Sains Malaysia, focusing on the western hoolock gibbon and behavioral adaptations that allow species to survive in...

Herbert Kasozi

Herbert Kasozi of Uganda is pursuing a Ph.D. through the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at the University of Michigan. His research his focused on evaluating factors that influence the...

Ambika Prasad Khatiwada

Ambika Prasad Khatiwada of Nepal is pursuing a Ph.D. from the University of Oviedo, Spain. His thesis, entitled “People and Pangolins: Ecology and Conservation of Pangolins in Nepal,” focuses on...

Masud Lahut

Masud Lahut of Iran is pursuing his doctorate at Arak University, focusing on the conservation and management of Baluchistan black bear in Iran, a subspecies of the Asiatic black bear....

Patrick Okello

Patrick Okello of Uganda is planning to pursue an online master’s degree through the University of Edinburgh. His studies will focus on the impact of certain zoonotic diseases on lion...

Ando Rabearisoa

Ando Rabearisoa of Madagascar is pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of California, Santa Cruz, focusing on Hawksbill sea turtle conservation by evaluating the effectiveness of Locally- Managed Marine Areas...

Tapologo Connie Sebati

Tapologo Connie Sebati of Botswana will be pursuing an online M.A. in Development Studies from the University of South Africa. Her thesis will focus on integrating gender into conservation by...

Mario Sneyder Jimenez Segura

Mario Sneyder Jimenez Segura of Costa Rica plans to pursue an MSc in Conservation Project Management at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, focusing on nesting...

Zhi Yi Teoh

Zhi Yi (Sandra) Teoh of Malaysia, is pursuing a Ph.D. in Ecology and Biodiversity at the University of Malaya, focusing on the social ecology of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin. Her...