Picture by Lillien Jones
As a toddler, Lillien Jones (BYU ’28) beloved the wild animals that will enterprise into her yard—deer, coyotes, rabbits, and hawks—and she or he visited the Hogle Zoo each likelihood she may. Then, whereas taking a zoology class in highschool, she expanded her ardour from simply viewing animals to learning them and realized she wished a profession in wildlife sciences.
Now at BYU, Jones research wildlife and conservation with a need to see animals of their pure habitats. She not too long ago returned from a research overseas to southern Africa (Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa) the place she was capable of discover the wildlife and study efforts to guard their environments.
The journey modified how Jones considered conservation objectives. AfriCat works to avoid wasting large cats like leopards and cheetahs from farmers in Namibia. These cats eat farmers’ cattle, which destroys their livelihoods. AfriCat works to reduce conflicts by curating the Okonjima Nature Reserve and instructing farmers sustainable farming practices. Jones was impressed by AfriCat’s efforts. “It’s an environmental situation, however it is usually a really human situation,” Jones mused. “Coping with conservation implies that it’s important to work by way of and with the group. You may’t work in opposition to the group. We have to have empathy and work collectively to develop options.”
Picture by Lillien Jones
Coping with conservation implies that it’s important to work by way of and with the group. You may’t work in opposition to the group. We have to have empathy and work collectively to develop options.
Lillien Jones
Picture by Lillien Jones
On numerous safari excursions, Jones and her fellow college students noticed a variety of animals, some anticipated and others surprising. Jones’s favorites have been the black and white rhinos she noticed at Etosha Nationwide Park in Namibia. She was thrilled to spy six of their pure habitat from their safari van. Animals like honey badgers, chameleons, flamingoes, and jackals within the desert areas of Namibia have been a shock that she didn’t anticipate to see. She additionally beloved figuring out the assorted species of antelope and impala in every nation.
With each new animal sighting, her appreciation for God’s creations grew. “It was wonderful to see totally different pure magnificence than we now have again house and to see God’s hand in that,” Jones enthused. “The journey additionally gave me a higher appreciation for house and the sweetness right here simply as a lot because it did there.”
Speaking with the guides enlightened her view of local weather change impacting Sub-Saharan Africa. Some areas are receiving extra rain than anticipated and others are in excessive drought. This radical change in local weather is affecting each the individuals and wildlife. “They don’t know the right way to put together and haven’t got the infrastructure, so that they’re being hit tougher than we’d,” mentioned Jones.
Picture by Lillen Jones
Jones is grateful to the donors who supplied the experiential studying grants that made this journey financially possible for her. “I’ve all the time dreamed of with the ability to see unimaginable locations and unimaginable animals however I’ve by no means gotten to. It’s not one thing that I used to be anticipating having the sources to do,” shared Jones. With out their assist, she wouldn’t have had the chance to check overseas and study wildlife conservation. This expertise opened Jones’ eyes and has bolstered her need to turn into a wildlife veterinarian.
