The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Conservation Leadership Group has a number of students who they train up as future conservationists, and we have created an internship opportunity on the project to help offer valuable practical experience. Azwafarwi is our first field assistant in this position and he is studying towards his Nature Conservation Diploma through UNISA. He has completed his theoretical work and is here on Venetia Limpopo Nature Reserve to kill two birds with one stone, by providing me with much needed assistance, while gaining essential field experience in wildlife research.

Azwafarwi is a major asset on the spoor counts we are doing, and was quite happy to get stuck in with smelly pieces of rotten meat that we place in front of the camera-traps to slow the target animals just long enough for our cameras to take a photo. Carnivore research may sound glamorous, but more often than not it involves the by-products of predation: carcasses and droppings! The first time they have to deal with either of these hands on is usually a good indicator of the mettle of a new assistant, and Azwafarwi passed this test with flying colours.

One of the great pleasures in working with Azwarfarwi is the fact that he is constantly asking questions and suggesting new ideas for research, and sounding me out about things he may go on to do. His main interests are insects and frogs, rather than the large carnivores, but I have a feeling the world of conservation will not have seen the last of Azwafarwi when he finishes his placement here later this year!

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