Conservation Careers

What drives someone to the most remote corners of the Earth in pursuit of wildlife conservation? For Dr Sandra Lai, it’s a profound dedication to understanding and protecting our planet’s most vulnerable species.

In this article, we dive into Sandra’s remarkable career journey. Discover how Sandra’s unique experiences and insights can offer valuable lessons for aspiring conservationists and professionals in the field.

A childhood surrounded by nature

Born and raised on the idyllic island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, Sandra’s early life was surrounded by natural wonders.

“My childhood home was by the beach and the ocean, very close to wildlife and nature,” she recalls. “Every night I was lulled to sleep by the sound of waves, and I woke up everyday hearing hundreds of birds singing loudly,” she reminisces.

Wildlife documentaries and books further fuelled her fascination with nature, notably Jack London’s “White Fang” and Farley Mowat’s “Never Cry Wolf.” The latter, despite its controversies, inspired her to pursue university studies in Canada, driven by a fascination with the Arctic wilderness and a dream of observing wild wolves.

From ecology to conservation: Fascination with extreme biomes

Sandra’s journey into conservation biology and wildlife management is a compelling narrative of passion and evolution. Starting her career as an ecologist, she initially focused on canids and small wildcats.

Her work with these species naturally led her to the realm of conservation. Medium to large carnivores often exist in low densities and face significant human-wildlife conflicts, which evoke a spectrum of human emotions, from fear to fascination.

As she explains, “For an ecologist or wildlife biologist, especially if you work with carnivores, you inevitably get drawn to conservation or wildlife management because you see the issues they face with your own eyes.”

Driven by a desire to work in the Arctic, Sandra pursued a PhD at Université du Québec à Rimouski, studying the movement ecology of Arctic Foxes in the Canadian High Arctic.

At the Bylot Island Research Station, she immersed herself in the intricate interactions within the tundra ecosystem and witnessed the profound effects of climate change. “Being in the Arctic, you witness firsthand the links between the snow, the sea ice, the glaciers, and the wildlife,” she reflects.

This immersive experience of the Arctic, one of the biomes most affected by global warming, highlighted the urgent need for research and action to protect these fragile ecosystems.

Her commitment intensified during her first postdoctoral position at the Canadian Forces Station Alert on Ellesmere Island, where she contributed to the implementation of a long-term ecosystem monitoring program and biodiversity management plan. “There, I finally got to see and observe my first Arctic wolves in the wild!” she recalls with enthusiasm.

Today, Sandra channels her expertise into the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme (EWCP), dedicating her efforts to the protection of the unique and endangered Ethiopian wolf, continuing her journey to safeguard the world’s most vulnerable species.

The draw of extreme biomes

Discovering the Arctic’s hidden secrets: Insights from Sandra’s groundbreaking research

In the remote and icy realms of the Arctic, Sandra’s pioneering research has unveiled some astonishing truths about Arctic Foxes and Arctic Hares, transforming our understanding of these elusive species and their habitats.

Sandra’s PhD research marked a groundbreaking shift in our comprehension of Arctic fox behaviour. “My research was part of the first large-scale satellite tracking study of Arctic foxes,” she reveals.

Previously, it was widely believed that these foxes migrated to sea ice for winter, scavenging on seal remains left by polar bears. However, her work on Bylot Island upended this assumption.

“We discovered that the majority of Arctic foxes stayed within their territories year-round, venturing to the sea ice only for short trips and more frequently during times of prey scarcity, ” she explains. This finding challenged the long-held belief that sea ice was crucial for their winter survival.

“Sea ice is important as a traveling and foraging platform, but it’s not as critical for overwintering as previously thought, ” Sandra notes. Her research also had significant ecological implications, altering our understanding of tundra dynamics and even influencing models of rabies transmission in the Arctic.

In her postdoctoral research, she turned her attention to Arctic hares, another species whose movements had been shrouded in mystery. “For the first time, we tracked Arctic hares year-round using satellite collars, ” she says.

What began as scepticism about migratory patterns soon turned into a revelation. “Our results uncovered large-scale movements exceeding 100 kilometres during autumn, revealing the Arctic hare as a potentially migratory species,” Sandra shares.

This discovery was unprecedented in lagomorph (rabbit and hare) research and opened new avenues for understanding how these movements influence polar desert ecosystems. “Tracking animal movement is so fascinating because the findings can be such a big surprise!” Sandra enthuses.

Sandra’s innovative work not only reshapes our understanding of Arctic wildlife but also highlights the critical role of conservation research in uncovering hidden aspects of species behaviour and ecosystem dynamics.

Joining the Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Programme

In September 2022, Sandra joined EWCP, a pivotal initiative within the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) at the University of Oxford focusing on the conservation of the endangered Ethiopian Wolf.

With fewer than 500 individuals remaining, this unique canid faces numerous threats. Her role involves coordinating research and monitoring efforts, analysing population trends, and contributing to practical conservation strategies. Her work included deploying GPS collars to track wolf movements and assessing the impacts of diseases and human disturbance.

Memorable fieldwork experiences

Sandra’s fieldwork spans from capturing Arctic Foxes under the midnight sun in the High Arctic to chasing black-footed cats at night in the South African karoo, tagging Island Foxes in the Channel Islands, trapping Clouded Leopards deep in the Bornean primary forest and searching for wolves on horseback in the Ethiopian Highlands.

“When doing fieldwork, especially captures, you work under any weather conditions – snow, strong winds, pouring rain. You don’t sleep much; you must always be ready to spring into action,” she describes.

“But seeing these wild animals up close was definitely among my most memorable moments”. These intense, often challenging experiences have profoundly shaped her perspective on wildlife conservation, reinforcing her dedication to protecting the world’s most vulnerable species.

Advice for aspiring conservationists

For those entering the field, Sandra’s advice is clear: be aware that being a conservationist is more about working with people than working with wildlife. “I think conservation is much closer to social sciences than natural sciences”, Sandra says.

“Many biology students come into conservation because they want to work with wildlife, but in reality, you need to learn to work with people – the local communities, the stakeholders, the policy makers but also the funders, the animal rights activists, the NGOs – to reconcile very differing views about wildlife and wildlife management… And it’s very challenging”. 

Looking ahead: Challenges and opportunities

The future of conservation biology is fraught with challenges, particularly in the face of habitat loss and climate change. Sandra highlights the need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecology, economy, policy and social sciences to address these issues effectively.

“The field of conservation biology has evolved to address these challenges from multiple angles,” she notes.

Looking ahead, Sandra is focused on long-term ecological monitoring and research. “Long-term data are crucial for understanding the impacts of threats like climate change and habitat loss,” she notes.

“I want to manage a study area dedicated to ecosystem monitoring and research, supported by an interdisciplinary team. The goal is to ensure that conservation actions are backed by solid evidence and effectively address the complex challenges facing our planet.”

In conservation, the stakes are high, and every step forward counts. Sandra’s work inspires us to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

Further reading and resources

Learn more about Sandra’s work in Unveiling the mysteries of the Ethiopian Wolf: An in-depth look at Dr. Sandra Lai’s expedition into the heart of conservation. You can also stay updated on Dr. Sandra Lai’s work via her Twitter and Instagram channels.

Featured image: Sandra Lai with young Arctic hares, Alert, Ellesmere Island, Canada. Credit: Charline Couchoux.

 

Author Profile | Stephanie Nicolaides

Stephanie Nicolaides is a dedicated PhD candidate in Environmental Management at the University of the Western Cape. Her research delves into the impact of plastic pollution on the Mossel Bay coastline (South Africa), with a particular focus on the effects on marine biodiversity. Her work focuses on assessing plastic presence, local knowledge, and developing sustainable solutions. Stephanie holds an MSc in Life Sciences from the University of South Africa, where her dissertation examined the behavioural ecology of African clawless otters. She also earned her BSc Hons in Life Sciences, graduating cum laude, with an honours project on personality in Leopard Tortoises. Passionate about environmental sustainability, Stephanie is committed to advancing knowledge in marine biology and contributing to efforts to protect and preserve coastal ecosystems. Connect with Stephanie on LinkedIn.

Interviews, Scientist