Working with cheetahs in Africa is a far cry from South West Queensland, where Jenny Campbell is the Economic Development Officer for the Town of Dalby and Shire of Chinchilla. She recently returned from Otjiwarongo, in central north Namibia, where she spent two weeks as an Earthwatch volunteer for the Cheetah Conservation Fund.
The Fund farms cattle and sheep to generate income for cheetah research, and its property is home to a diverse range of native African wildlife, including the eland, oryx, duiker, dik dik, warthog, and a huge bird population.
During her stay, Jenny Campbell helped develop a strategic plan to market predator friendly beef to Europe. Her tasks helping the everyday running of the property included feeding cheetahs, collecting specimens from dead cheetahs, and collecting Anatolian Shepherd guard dogs. She learned about the marketing and promotion of tourism, the economic role of wildlife and how to educate the public about endangered species – all skills that could be applied to Australian Local Governments.
Another highlight of the trip was meeting Namibia’s first Olympic medallist, sprinter Frankie Fredericks.
The Earthwatch Institute promotes the conservation of natural environments and cultural heritage by creating partnerships between scientists, the general public, educators and businesses. Projects include biological, physical, cultural and social sciences. There are 120 Earthwatch projects throughout the world, involving mammals, reptiles, birds, archaeological digs and community health.
For further information contact Jenny Campbell, email chinchillashire@growzone.com.au, telephone (07) 4662 7056, or visit www.earthwatch.org
