What’s Happening

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: farmers, a butcher, and even a dentist. To ensure scientific rigor, my transects were computer-generated and randomly placed across northern Limpopo. The challenge has been 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 and long walks in the bush, February was all about people and connections. I spent more time at the University of Venda getting to know 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 who know baboons best. We’ll be surveying community members with firsthand experience, collecting baboon photos from known locations, inviting the public to guess the number Read more