Little Loxi, the orphaned African elephant is lost in England and needs your help to find her a new home - all you need to do to win Loxi (plus a kindle) is donate just £1 for a raffle ticket, and include one word that signifies what wildlife conservation means to you.

All proceeds go to the wildlife conservation project detailed below. You can enter as many times as you like with the same or different words. The raffle with will be drawn on Saturday 30th September at 12 noon and the winner will be announced on the Wessex Portal Facebook Site.

If you would like further information please contact me via email, thompsonk@bournemouth.ac.uk

Let’s bring some luck to little Loxi (and her species).

About me:

Ever since an early age I have loved the natural world - in particular African wildlife. I have developed a great insight of ecological systems throughout my personal and academic life. I am fascinated by the animals and plants that we co-exist with, the interactions and the importance of understanding the natural world to be able to better protect it sustainably. I am keen to develop and explore knowledge throughout academia, where I have achieved a BSc and MSc in environmental sciences. I am now at the preliminary stages of my doctoral research project which has developed as a result of an internship in South Africa. I am now exceptionally driven to contribute to conservation directly, whilst continuing to involve as many people as I can into the world of conservation that I love!

PhD research project:

We need to understand how the spatio-temporal (area and time) scale effects African elephant’s (Loxodonta Africana) diversity and the functioning of an ecosystem. This study aims to compile research across a consortium of areas, all attributing to the conservation and preservation of the endangered species.

A complete approach will be used to produce a concise collection of scientific papers, focusing on research across various locations in sub-Saharan Africa. Strong emphasis of the project will also be focused on social sciences, using public engagement and outreach to ensure the highest impacting research is conducted. An array of contributors will be working on the project, to ensure that resources are used efficiently; a greater research engagement will enable effective and diversified involvement and outreach.

Further awareness campaigns:

- Fieldwork research in South Africa - GVI South Africa

- Eco-toilet project and education programme - ACEF

- Research blog on environmental education - Wessex Portal

- Artwork for conservation - KatesArtForAfrica

Thank you!