Field Research Officer, Wild Cheetah Unit, De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre
Farmers often regard cheetahs on their land as vermin, to be shot or poisoned. Kelly is intent on changing their perceptions and behaviour, and she has succeeded in converting many into becoming allies of the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre.
Kelly is a member of South Africa’s Olympic fencing team and she has a fiery passion for her work. ‘My special area is a project to monitor wild cheetahs surviving outside conservation areas,†she says. The project is located in the Thabazimbi district of Limpopo province.
Unofficial statistics show only 400 to 700 free-roaming cheetahs are left in South Africa, but no one knows how many are outside reserves, so De Wildt is conducting a census. Kelly’s team monitors cheetah habits by using radio collars and remote cameras.
‘It doesn’t feel like a job,†Kelly says. ‘My work is very dear to me.†She thinks her gender has many advantages in the field. ‘I once had to visit a farmer, who had chased my colleague away with a shotgun. I was scared, but we drank coffee together and everything turned out fine. I think women have more finesse and a softer approach,†she says.