Natasha Fourie

I'm a dedicated conservation officer with 18 months of hands-on experience, backed by a degree in Biodiversity and Ecology. My deep passion lies in protecting wildlife through ethical monitoring and management practices. I am a very hands-on person and willing to learn new skills every day.

I started out my career as a Conservation Officer and Field Guide a private Big 5 game reserve in the Western Cape. I was responsible for a wide range of wildlife-focused, ecological and operational tasks that supported the sustainable management of the reserve’s diverse wildlife populations and ecosystems. My role required a hands-on approach to conservation management, animal welfare, infrastructure maintenance, and guest engagement. Key achievements
include successfully introducing cheetahs and hippopotamus into the reserve for the first time. Later, I moved on to a contract opportunity with the Cape Leopard Trust. Currently serving as a Conservation Officer with The Cape Leopard Trust, I participate field-based research, respond to human-wildlife conflict, and support national anti-snaring initiatives. My work spans camera trap surveys, predator-proof kraal testing, and snare awareness.

In 2023 I completed a degree in Biodiversity and Ecology at Stellenbosch University which enabled me to develop an understanding of the diversity, origin and function of organisms in relation to the environment. The three main streams of study are Functional Biology, Organismal and Environmental Biology, and Evolutionary Biology.

Core modules and practicals include: 

• Vertebrate life 
• Conservation Biology
• Principles of Ecology and an Ecology Field course
• Invasion Biology
• Plant diversity, form and function
• Global Change Biology