I am really excited to be joining an expedition to South Africa in June 2018 with Operation Wallacea. I will be spending 6 weeks in game reserves, conducting research on the conservation of critically endangered Black Rhino and African Elephants as part of my final year dissertation for my MSc in Zoology (Exeter University, Penryn Campus).

I need to fundraise a total of £3,000 for the expedition (excluding flights). I will spend time the Pongola game reserve monitoring the biodiversity and species distribution of the area, examining ranging behaviours and working with world renowned scientists to improve conservation methods and to understand how best to save keystone species.

The preservation and conservation of species is incredibly important to me, as I believe that it is our duty to protect the animals that share planet with us. Human impact on key ecosystems has devastated the balance of biodiversity and it is our responsibility to discover how it may be restored, which is why this research is invaluable to species survival. It will be a fantastic opportunity to conduct research and observe these species in their natural habitat.

Over the next 12 months I will be doing other fundraising activities to raise the £3,000 I need for my expedition - including bake sales, making jewellery and even running the Falmouth Half Marathon next March!

I am so fortunate to be taking part in this key research project and am grateful for any donation you feel you can make towards my expedition. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for supporting me.

Alex