- Published:
- 23 July 2019
Jeannie is a Project Researcher for the Cape Leopard Trust, who works closely with Anita Wilkinson on the Boland Research Project.
Jeannie grew up on a farm in the Karoo and is a self-described ‘wild-child’. From a young age, she has had a deep love of nature and wildlife, which has served as a driving force behind so much of the work that she has done and continues to do.
She is a Wildlife Biologist with an MSc in Zoology from Stellenbosch University. During her time at university, she focused on research projects based in the Karoo and the Cederberg that were aimed at understanding the ecology of species living within these areas. After a few years in the television industry as a Researcher and Production Manager for conservation-based content, Jeannie found her way back to the Cederberg, where she has now been with the Cape Leopard Trust for almost ten years.
Together with Anita, Jeannie has established various research projects in the Boland region of the Western Cape, that have aided in the conservation of leopards of the Cape. Jeannie has a particular focus on developing conservation and management strategies based on the outcomes of her research, which are helping to mitigate incidences of human-wildlife conflict in the region. In addition to her research and overseeing the day-to-day running of the Boland Project, Jeannie is also working towards her Ph.D., which is based on the spatial and behavioural ecology of leopards in the Boland mountains.
Jeannie is extremely dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and wilderness areas and has devoted her life to making a difference through her work. Even on the toughest days, this passion and desire to have a positive impact on the natural world, has carried her through and inspired her to never stop fighting to ensure the protection and conservation of the leopards of the Cape.
