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Kath has been involved with environmental research, conservation, and project management since 2003. Her primary interests encompass the incorporation of behavioural research into understanding evolutionary drivers of disease transmission, infection mechanisms and disease control efforts. A background researching endangered carnivores and mega-herbivores has emphasised the need for continued research and monitoring of key species, systems and natural processes on this ever-changing planet for Kath.
Kath began her career researching African wild dogs with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and, having spent countless hours tracking, observing, communing, and growing as a conservationist and scientist with the wild dogs for the better part of a decade, will always consider herself a “dog-girl”. This time with the wild dogs also allowed Kath to pursue research interests in other large carnivores, including African lion and cheetah.
In 2014 Kath’s research focus shifted from animals with teeth and claws to those that are often the fodder of carnivores, when she joined a dynamic, collaborative team researching Foot and Mouth Disease Virus in African buffalo. She was elected to manage the project in the Kruger National Park until it wrapped up in 2019. Collaborative projects, like this one, provide one with perspective and insight with regard to a “bigger picture” approach to conservation where animals, humans and the environment all need to considered holistically in order to make any meaningful, impactful contributions to the field.
Kath’s work on the buffalo project led to a position as a research fellow in the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases at Onderstepoort in 2020 until she joined the faculty at the School of Biology and Environmental Science at the University of Mpumalanga.
Kath has published in various scientific journals on carnivore behaviour and management, behaviour and health in African buffalo and scientific method. She also compiled the African Wild Dog Compendium on behalf of the Wild Dog Advisory Group and was a contributing author of the South African Good Practise Guidelines for Surveying Bats at Wind Energy Facility Developments.
Kath has written our latest speciality wildlife course, Cheetah behaviour. This course enables the learner to understand the subtler aspects of cheetah behaviour and some of the threats being faced by this magnificent species, which places them on the IUCN’s ‘Vulnerable’ list. With her years of experience, Kath is the perfect person to also tutor and mark this course.
