South African Wildlife Conservation

As an intern for Lajuma, I had the privilege to participate in wildlife research, botanical surveys, and community outreach.

Wildlife Research

Wildlife outreach is the focus of the organization. I helped install and manage a vast camera trap grid, as well as analyzing collected images from the traps. I participated in samango monkey and baboon behavioral surveys. I searched high-poaching areas for snares and traps to remove.

Botanical Surveys

I continued monthly research tracking the growth and development of specific trees across a large landscape for budding, leafing, and fruiting. I conducted plot surveys for plant cover percentage. Invasive plant species originating from South America are prevelant in the area, and I conducted manual removal in select areas.

Community Outreach

Lajuma works with local communities to find win-win solutions to wildlife conflict. While I was there, this included building and funding a fence and guard dog for livestock to protect them from leopards. This successfully aleviated the concern of livestock owners who wished to shoot the leopards, creating a positive solution to all parties.

I participated in wildlife outreach with local school aged children who, despite growing up at the base of the Soutpansbergs, had very limited knowledge of the wildlife on the mountains. Education efforts will hopefully increase future collaboration and discussions to find more win-win solutions.

Continued Collaboration

Since my in-person internship, I have continued to collaborate with the organization by starting and running a fundraiser to purchase new laptops, waterproof laptop cases, and several months of employee wages for Lajuma.