EDGE Fellows

“A highlight of my Fellowship was been the conservation tools training course in Madagascar. I was able to learn lots of things about different aspects of conservation including the social aspect. In addition to the course, I had the pleasure to meet and be friends with young and enthusiastic conservationists working in different parts of the world.” 

Bruktawit Abdu's EDGE Fellowship specialises in the White-winged Flufftail

"The EDGE Fellowship has provided me with invaluable experience and assistance to develop a career as a conservationist. Not only with financial support, but it has also helped me with conservation tools training and methodological and technical assistance. This support has improved and scaled up the conservation project I am currently working on, involving the El Rincon Stream frog and its habitat."

Tomás Martínez Aguirre’s Fellowship focuses on the endangered El Rincon stream frog

 “The scientific advice and support that I have received from the Fellowship has given me the opportunity to strengthen my career as a Conservation Biologist. In addition to meet wonderful people and learn from the Fellows, EDGE and NatGeo team, being a National Geographic Photo Ark EDGE Fellow has allowed me to acquire the necessary tools so that, together with my national advisers, we can implement a project that encourages active participation of the local people, as well as the creation of ecological knowledge, in order to conserve a charismatic, but little-known and threatened species.”

Yajaira García Feria's project is on the volcano rabbit

 “An important highlight of my fellowship has been the excellent attitude that people from the community have shown towards the project. They are always willing to help and very supportive.” 

Since completing his Fellowship, José Alfredo Hernández Díaz has received an EDGE Heroes scale-up award to continue his work to protect the Taylor’s salamander

“There is nothing better than self-satisfaction; doing what you feel you are good at. Rhino conservation is very fulfilling and I am contented to having achieved what my late uncle died trying to do. I feel an unexplainable thrill whenever I see a rhino cow walking with an innocent calf in a peaceful quite wilderness.”

Horris Wanyama is working to protect the Critically Endangered eastern black rhinoceros

“The EDGE fellowship was a unique opportunity to launch my career as a conservation biologist and create a project around a species for which I was most passionate about. Before EDGE and the support from School of Biology of the University of Costa Rica and my mentors, studying tapirs was just a dream.”

Esteban Brenes-Mora is safeguarding the future of the Baird's Tapir

“There are many great things about my job. The first one is the Forests. When I am in the forests looking for tracks, observing Nature, I feel my roots in this World. My own roots. I can feel how I am part of a larger being, and how the Mystery of Nature is Infinite.”

After completing her Fellowship Micaela Camino was invited to become an EDGE Affiliate, as recognition of her ongoing work with the Chacoan peccary and continued relationship with the EDGE programme.