Bettina wachter
“I am fascinated by wildlife species with peculiar characteristics because they provide great opportunities to investigate particular aspects of their evolutionary biology. Cheetahs trigger my curiosity because they have a low genetic variability but nevertheless reproduce well and are healthy in the wild. And they are highly threatened. This provides an exciting challenge to link basic research with applied conservation activities.”
Jörg Melzheimer
“I love science, I enjoy communicating and I find it rewarding to solve problems that are outside my comfort zone. The field of human wildlife interaction needs and offers all of this. It allows to make a difference using science as a tool in the real world together with the people involved - for a future we want to pass on to our children.”
Rubén Portas
“Working in the field surrounded by wildlife is my passion and my every-day drive. I aim to contribute with my work to a better understanding of the functioning of ecosystems and the interactions between species and their habitats to establish more effective science-based conservation practices for cheetahs.”
Rebekka Müller
“As a veterinarian it had always been my aim to contribute to science-based and applied wildlife conservation. I believe that it is crucial to combine various fields to support the long-term survival of a threatened species such as the cheetah. This includes also a detailed understanding of the human side. This multi-layered approach is a great challenge and an even greater motivation!”
Ralf Röder
“It is my ambition since my childhood to contribute to nature conservation. I enjoy the diversity of tasks and challenges that come with the practical work involved in cheetah research. This requires my inventiveness and improvisation skills. It is highly motivating to continuously learn and gain new insights in how cheetahs adapt to a changing ecosystem.”
Maria Serocki
“For as long as I can remember, I am fascinated by wildlife. I am excited to contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the cheetah’s health status by using an interdisciplinary approach that combines evolutionary, ecological and immunological questions. Scientific research with a potential to improve conservation actions for a threatened species such as the cheetah keeps me highly enthusiastic.”