APWG-Creator
About APWG-Creator
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JESSIE BERNDT
Funded by Ceva Wildlife Research Fund and the APWG. The pangolins in the study form part of the world first reintroduction of Temminck’s pangolin into an area where they were locally extinct for four decades. This project is the brainchild of the APWG together with andBeyondPhinda and is taking place on the Munyawana Conservancy and the andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. This PhD is entitled: Adaptive behavior, habitat use and ecological traits of Temminck’s pangolin Smutsia temminckii reintroduced into a large conservation area in northern KwaZulu-Natal. This study will answer many questions and provide a deeper understanding of pangolin behaviour. In the future, it could serve as a template for releases of retrieved pangolins into protected areas.
A collaboration between Ceva Wildlife Research Fund (CWRF) and the APWG, both committed to preserving biodiversity with a main objective focus on applied research projects, has resulted in the funding of PhD candidate Jessie Berndt. This PhD research is being conducted under the auspices of the University of Pretoria and supervised by Professor Andrew Mckechnie and Professor Ray Jansen.
FRANCOIS MEYER
The APWG has funded Francois Meyer in obtaining his Masters degree and continues this funding for his PHD.
This research aims to gain a greater understanding of Temminck’s pangolin ecology and behaviour post-release, in order to aid in future release procedures, management decisions and research opportunities. The pangolins in this study are all formerly confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and released back into a suitable habitat that form part of the species natural distribution range.
Francois has a BSc in Conservation Ecology from the University of Stellenbosch. In 2020 Francois submitted his MSc dissertation entitled ‘Survival and distribution of Temminck’s ground pangolin retrieved from the illegal wildlife trade in South Africa’. Currently, Francois is completing a PhD with the topic: Ecology, behaviour and environmental influence on post-released Temminck’s pangolins (Smutsia temminckii), recovered from the illegal wildlife trade. This project is being completed under the auspices of the University of Pretoria and supervised by Professor Andrew Mckechnie and Professor Ray Jansen.
Francois’ research will aid in gaining a wealth of information regarding the movement, territorial behaviour, feeding and ecology of pangolins and what role seasonal variation plays within these factors. Furthermore, even though veterinary care and rehabilitation aims to support recovery for pangolins retrieved from the illegal wildlife trade, little is understood about the amount of stress these animals experience during captivity or release, and what levels of stress could be considered normal or detrimental to their overall success post-release.
PROF RAYMOND JANSEN
Ray Jansen, as the Founder and past Chairman of the APWG is the first person to be granted Honorary Life Membership of the APWG in recognition of his dedication to the mission of pangolin conservation since 2009 and his tireless service to the APWG since its inception in 2011.
Ray is a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Pangolin Specialist Group. He is a Full Professor in the Department of Environmental, Water and Earth Sciences in the Faculty of Science at the Tshwane University of Technology. He holds a PhD in Zoology from the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology based at the University of Cape Town.
Ray is a world authority on African pangolins and his contribution to the scientific publications that are associated with the APWG, during his tenure as Chairman, is immense. His expertise includes pangolin crime intelligence and interfacing with agents of poaching; and his evidence in aggravation of sentencing in pangolin poaching cases has resulted in significant precedent sentences, in South Africa. Ray continues to present his specialisations at APWG law enforcement workshops, where he is a valuable asset to the APWG and a highly skilled participant.
GARETH THOMAS
Gareth was born in Johannesburg in 1982, and spent much of his childhood exploring the wilderness in Zimbabwe and nature in the Natal Midlands. For him, school felt confining, so he left early to pursue super-bike racing, and working as a race bike technician for Honda while studying engineering. He later shifted into property and investment management while also playing professional poker, a period marked by both success and excess. Seeking balance, he rediscovered nature through wildlife photography. In 2019, he offered support to the African Pangolin Working Group and met Prof. Ray Jansen. This led to his first encounter with pangolins, sparking a deep commitment to their awareness and rewilding.
JASMINE GOULD
Jasmine is a Fundraising Strategy Consultant with over a decade of experience in wildlife conservation and nonprofit leadership. At APWG, she develops fundraising strategies to support pangolin conservation and habitat protection. Jasmine has worked across Southeast Asia with grassroots conservation groups, including Save Vietnam’s Wildlife and the Huay Pakoot Elephant Community Foundation, focusing on fundraising, communications, and ecotourism strategy. She previously led business development at Strategic Consulting Partners and has been recognized with a 40 Under 40 award and as a Rising Star in Government Contracting. She holds an Masters in Public administration with a focus on Environmental Policy and International Management.