Three Nelson Mandela University Conservation Management students from the George Campus stood out among the best presenters at the recent Southern Africa Wildlife Management Association (SAWMA) Conference in Port Alfred.
The conference brought together leading voices in wildlife research, with 48 full presentations and 22 speed presentations delivered. Mandela University was strongly represented with nine students attending — including two PhD candidates and five master’s students who presented their work.
Award-Winning Research
- Elizabeth Kennedy Overton (left) received the Best PhD Speed Presentation for her project “Tracking cheetahs: quantifying hunting success through an age-old tracking method.”
Elizabeth’s research at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve looks at cheetah hunting success, diet, microbiome, pathobiome, spatial movements, and interactions with prey and competitors. Her work aims to close the gap between science and practice by helping managers make informed decisions about predator impacts on prey populations. - Yasmin Markides (top right) earned the Best MSc Full Talk Award for her presentation “Modelling functional dispersal corridors to Malawian protected areas for African wild dog and lion.”
By combining wildlife data with land-use maps, Yasmin is identifying key corridors that connect fragmented habitats in Malawi. Her findings could shape conservation planning to secure viable populations of lions and wild dogs in the region. - Marna Visagie (bottom right)was recognised as Runner-Up: MSc Full Talk for “Estimating large carnivore densities using spatial capture-recapture methods in an arid, fenced protected reserve, South Africa.”
Focusing on leopards, brown hyaenas, and spotted hyaenas at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve, Marna’s work uses population estimates and DNA metabarcoding to establish crucial baseline data. These insights will help conservationists track predator trends, guide ecotourism strategies, and protect the Kalahari’s ecological heritage.
Pride in Local Excellence
The outstanding achievements of Elizabeth, Yasmin, and Marna showcase the calibre of conservation research coming from the Eastern Cape and beyond. For more information check out NMU
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