Mx Michelle Pretorius

"Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) bark-stripping behaviour on pine plantations in the Mpumalanga region" (Prof Justin O’Riain, Dr Andrew King, Dr Ines Fuertbauer)

I am pursuing my PhD with a focus on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence, ecology, and conservation. Building on my Honours and MSc degrees, my academic journey has been driven by a keen interest in unravelling the intricate relationships between biodiversity conservation and human activities. My ongoing doctoral research delves into the conflict between chacma baboons and the forestry industry in South Africa. Employing advanced methodologies, including multi-species occupancy and home range modelling, in tandem with the innovative implementation of accelerometer collars in collaboration with Swansea University (UK), I am unravelling the complex movement patterns and damage-causing behaviours of baboons within a landscape of commercial importance.  

My prior research has included spatiotemporal home range analyses of African wild dogs as well as investigating the multi-species occupancy dynamics of mesocarnivores across protected areas. My commitment to collaborative research and management is further exemplified by my engagement with prominent NGOs, including Panthera and WildlifeACT. I am deeply committed to bridging theoretical knowledge with practical solutions, aiming to develop economically feasible, ecologically sustainable, and socially responsible conservation and conflict mitigation approaches. 

www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-pretorius-20726590     

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1058-2844 "