64 transects. 164 km on foot. That’s how much ground I’ve covered so far—and I’ve learned that fieldwork rarely goes exactly according to plan. Several landowners had told me I could survey on their land, but then came months of radio silence. Eventually, I had to be honest with myself: Read more
52 — that’s the number of transects I’ve walked to date. A transect is a straight line or narrow path along which I record baboon presence. On paper, my GPS tells me I’ve walked 135 km while surveying, but I know the actual distance is considerably more. At each location, Read more
We had been inside Kruger National Park for less than five minutes when my sister suddenly shouted, “STOP!” I hit the brakes, looked around, and couldn’t see anything unusual. Just a small herd of impalas. “They’re beautiful,” she said, admiring their graceful legs and the sweeping horns of the males. Read more
During the six months I’ve been in Limpopo, I’ve met some wonderful farmers and farm managers. Farming often operates on narrow profit margins, and an increase in the cost of fertilizer or diesel—or crop losses from insects, weather, or wildlife—can become financially devastating. Lately, I’ve been spending time with citrus Read more
The dry season arrived in Limpopo, and with it came the start of baboon surveys. My transects cross private farms, communal lands, and protected areas like national parks and nature reserves. No matter where I survey, permission is essential — but who grants that permission depends entirely on the land. Read more
Conservation is often imagined as fieldwork: tracking animals, collecting data, and working in remote landscapes. But one of the most important investments in conservation is much less visible — students. I have the privilege of working with Honors students at the University of Venda (UNIVEN) in Thohoyandou, Limpopo. Although I Read more
I could have sworn I just wrote my February update—and somehow, it’s already April. At first, it felt like March passed quietly. Then I looked at my calendar. This month, above all, was about connections. When it comes to the transects I’ll be walking, those connections came in unexpected forms: Read more
Fieldwork often begins long before the first transect is walked. It starts with conversations, introductions, cups of coffee, and the kindness of people willing to help a stranger with a research project. February turned out to be exactly that kind of month. Unlike January, which was filled with wildlife sightings Read more
I’ve been in South Africa for a little over a month now. When I arrived in Johannesburg, the sky was clear and sunny. I rented a small car and headed north, stopping in Pretoria to meet Embassy staff for coffee and conversation. From there, I continued on to Thohoyandou. I Read more
The Chacma Baboon Project is finally becoming a reality, thanks to the support of the William J. Fulbright Scholar Award. After months of preparation, the project officially launches in January—and we’re excited to bring you along from the very beginning. Our first step will be gathering information from the people Read more