Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM)
Conservation Biologist
Species and habitat protection
What this life looks like
You fight to save species and habitats from extinction. Conservation Biologists apply biological science to protect biodiversity, restore damaged ecosystems, and find ways for human development and nature to coexist. Africa — with its extraordinary wildlife heritage — is one of the most important battlegrounds for global conservation.
What she actually does
You survey and monitor wildlife populations, investigate the causes of species decline, design and evaluate conservation interventions, work with communities living near protected areas, develop wildlife corridors and habitat restoration plans, advise governments on protected area management, and communicate conservation science to policymakers and the public.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Conservation NGOs | African Wildlife Foundation, Panthera, WCS Africa, WWF Africa, Save the Rhino |
| National Parks | KWS Kenya, SANParks South Africa, Malawi Parks and Wildlife, ZIMSEC Zimbabwe |
| Research Institutes | Zoological societies, wildlife research centres, national biodiversity institutes |
| International Bodies | IUCN, CITES Secretariat, Convention on Biological Diversity |
Why it matters in Africa
Africa is home to iconic species including elephants, lions, gorillas, and rhinoceroses — all of which face serious threats from poaching, habitat loss, and climate change. African conservation biologists who understand both the science and the human dimensions of conservation are critical to protecting this heritage for future generations.
Your pathway in
- Study Biology, Geography, and Environmental Science at school
- Pursue a degree in Conservation Biology, Zoology, Ecology, or Biological Sciences
- Gain field experience through voluntary conservation work and research attachments
- Develop skills in wildlife monitoring techniques (camera traps, radio telemetry, population surveys)
- Consider postgraduate study for research and management leadership careers
Skills you will need
- Wildlife survey techniques
- Conservation genetics basics
- Population modelling
- Community-based conservation
- GIS and species distribution modelling
- Fundraising and grant writing
A woman in this field
Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka
Uganda
Gladys is a Ugandan veterinarian and founder of Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), an organisation that works at the intersection of gorilla conservation and community health in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. She was the first wildlife veterinarian employed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and has won the Indianapolis Prize — the world's most prestigious conservation award — for her work protecting mountain gorillas.
Take your first step
- Volunteer with any wildlife or conservation project accessible to you
- Research conservation biology programmes at universities across Africa
- Follow African Wildlife Foundation, WildlifeDirect, and Panthera Africa on social media
- Learn to identify the species in your local environment — start a nature journal