A total of nine Mandela University students attended, of whom two PhD students and five masters presented. Altogether 48 full presentations and 22 speed presentations were made.
Elizabeth Kennedy Overton (right) was awarded the Best PhD Speed Presentation for “Tracking cheetahs: quantifying hunting success through an age-old tracking method".
She is studying cheetahs at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve to assess their impact on prey populations and inform predator management.
Elizabeth’s research focuses on their hunting success, diet, microbiome, pathobiome, spatial movements, and interactions with prey and competitors.
The goal is to bridge the gap between research and practical conservation by addressing a specific management challenge.
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The Best MSc Full Talk award went to Yasmin Markides for “Modelling functional dispersal corridors to Malawian protected areas for African wild dog and lion”.
Her project explores how Malawi’s fragmented landscapes affect the survival of lions and African wild dogs.
Using wildlife data and land-use maps, Yasmine is modelling habitat suitability and connectivity to identify key protected areas and wildlife corridors. The aim is to inform conservation planning and support viable populations.
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Marna Visagie’s presentation was the Runner-Up: MSc Full Talk: “Estimating large carnivore densities using spatial capture-recapture methods in an arid, fenced protected reserve, South Africa”.
Marna researches leopards, brown, and spotted hyaenas at Tswalu Kalahari Reserve. She uses population estimates and DNA metabarcoding to gather baseline data on these elusive carnivores.
Her work helps track predator trends and their impact on prey, guiding conservation planning. It also supports ecotourism and protects the Kalahari’s natural heritage by conserving key species.