Mx Hannah Edwards

"Utilising by-catch camera trap data to investigate spotted hyaena (Crocuta crocuta) ecology and conservation in South Africa " (Prof Justin O’Riain, Dr Greg Distiller, Dr Rebecca Garbett)

Hannah has always loved animals and nature. After completing high school in Australia, she worked in animal shelters and as an Animal Management Officer. Hannah first visited Africa in 2008, participating in an overland trip and developing a deep passion for Africa and its wildlife. After spending a month volunteering with Carnivore Research Malawi in 2015, Hannah decided to follow her passion and pursue a career in carnivore ecology and conservation. She completed a Bachelor of Science at The University of Melbourne in 2019. While studying, Hannah volunteered as much as possible to gain experience in conservation. She completed a second placement with Carnivore Research Malawi in 2016 and has completed several placements with the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Drylands Conservation Programme and Carnivore Conservation Programme. Highlights of her volunteering include assisting with training a scent detection dog to locate riverine rabbits, a rhino dehorning project, camera trap surveys, radio-tracking spotted hyaena and lion, call-up surveys for large carnivores, and carnivore relocations.

Hannah moved to South Africa in 2020 and completed her Masters in Conservation Biology at the University of Cape Town. For her MSc research, she used by-catch camera trap data from Panthera to estimate the 2019 population densities of spotted hyaenas in uMkhuze Game Reserve and Mun-Ya-Wana Conservancy in KwaZulu-Natal. Hannah is now undertaking a PhD, again using by-catch camera trap data from Panthera to study spotted hyaena ecology and conservation in South African protected areas.