Eva Johnson Ayaro

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Eva Johnson Ayaro | Leventis African Biodiversity Fellow 2024

My conservation interested started while I was in high school where we went to the well-known and famous national park in my country, Serengeti NP for school adventure trip, I was amused by how wild animals were roaming freely and how staffs were working in such peacefully environment. I approached one staff and asked him.

"What course should I study at University that will allow me to work with wildlife” He smiled and explained some interesting things to me, then grabbed a piece of paper and wrote some wildlife related courses, from that day I didn’t stop imagining how wonderful it is to work with wildlife.

After high school, while applying for University entry I went straight to apply for wildlife related courses, and guess what!!! I was selected to one of the biggest universities in Tanzania, University of Dar es salaam. In 2020 I graduated with bachelor's degree in wildlife science and conservation with flying colours…………

Moreover, I have been in contact with several prominent herpetologists who have been working on herpetofauna in Tanzania, after declaring my conservation interest to them. I have had the opportunity to join some of these herpetologists in surveying some poorly explored forests in Tanzania especially the Eastern Arc Mountains. I also participated in different herpetological research projects as a research trainee, and while in the field I would feel excited and fulfilled. Up to date I am still on the same field of interest, hoping to be Tanzanian herpetologist in the future…