B.Ed

Originally hailing from the UK, Wendy came to South Africa in 2006, and began her work in conservation with the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), beginning work as a research assistant with large carnivores, and specialising in the endangered African Wild Dog. During this time, she observed many animal road mortalities. Deeply concerned by this, Wendy used her own time and resources to conduct pilot studies to ascertain the extent of roadkill. Some alarming statistics came to light, showing that roads may detrimentally impact biodiversity. In 2010, Wendy initiated a project that formed the basis for the future development of the first national multi-species protocol for the monitoring of roadkill in South Africa. This protocol was implemented in the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area (GMTFCA) in the northern Limpopo Valley of South Africa, a World Heritage Site and identified the factors affecting roadkill rates, species composition and any other variables that may affect roadkill rates.

Wendy is currently working with the EWT’s Wildlife and Roads Project where she is driving initiatives that address the now-recognised threat of roads in South Africa. She has successfully co-ordinated four international road ecology workshops which led to the development of a five-year action plan. In addition, she is creating a national network forum which will continue to raise awareness and further quantify the issue at hand through proactive mitigation measures such as a Roadkill Sensitivity Map and best practice guidelines to guide road development. Wendy is continuing to motivate for further research to be undertaken that examines the impacts of roads in South Africa and is liaising with South African institutions regarding the design of future projects. This body of knowledge will lead to the development and planning decisions of future road design, which will lessen the impact of roads on South African fauna and flora.

Wendy obtained her MSc thesis in April 2013 (through Rhodes University) which examined the determinants of roadkill in South Africa. In addition, she has written the South African chapter for an international publication on global road ecology, published a number of scientific papers for international peer-reviewed journals, as well as being the recipient of the International Infra Eco Network Europe Award for her work in the road ecology field, a finalist for the Indianapolis Prize as well as runner-up to the national Eco-Logics Awards for the last three years. Wendy authored the COAPE African Wild Dog Behaviour course.