Have you ever dreamed of turning your love for animals into a career? This month, you'll meet two inspiring wildlife scientists who are making a real difference for giraffes in South Africa! 

SIMANGELE MYENI grew up in a small rural community in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, where she developed a love and respect for nature from a very young age. That passion inspired her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and an Honours degree in Biological Sciences, where she studied rangeland ecology and grassland science. As Simangele transitions to wildlife management, which is her dream come true, she is dedicated to pursuing an MSc in Ecological Sciences. Today, Simangele is researching and helping to protect the South African giraffe, which is vulnerable to extinction in the KwaZulu-Natal province, through a project supported by the Anne Innis Dagg Foundation.

SCARLETT STROMER earned her Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management and Conservation from Humboldt State University in California, USA, and is currently a Master’s student in Animal Science at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Her current research focuses on giraffe behaviour, and she spends her days observing giraffes from sunrise to sunset to learn how they interact with one another and their environment. Previous to her giraffe research, Scarlett worked as a wildlife professional studying Rocky Mountain elk for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and as a wildlife biologist for Stantec.

Together, Simangele and Scarlett will share their educational journeys, what inspired them to become wildlife scientists, and what it's really like to study giraffes in the wild. They'll also tell us about the exciting research they're working on together in South Africa!

See you on Saturday, September 25th, 2026 at 11am EDT (Toronto/Canada)!

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