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Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network Interns Continue Their Conservation Journey

Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network Interns Continue Their Conservation Journey

At Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN) we are delighted to see our interns carry forward their passion for conservation beyond their time with us. Today, we highlight the journey of our former intern, Johanna Nesselhauf, whose recent fieldwork in Argentina showcases the lasting impact of hands-on experience in conservation.

Source: WCS Argentina

Johanna, a 2023 summer intern at WFEN and a student of International Relations at the University of Edinburgh, recently spent six weeks volunteering with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in Argentina. Her travels took her across Malargüe, Mendoza; the Patagonian Steppe in Neuquén Province; and the Telsen area in Chubut Province, where she actively contributed to conservation initiatives protecting species such as the Andean Cat and Guanacos.  

Here is her testimony of her experience…

For about a month and a half, I traveled through Argentina, volunteering with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in various locations. My journey began in Malargüe, Mendoza, where I joined Anibal and Jairo for field trips into the nearby mountains. We lived alongside local residents from the countryside, spending our days hiking to set up, check on and install camera traps and audio recorders scattered throughout the landscape, to capture signs of the Andean Cat. This involved many hours of trekking without official paths and exploring caves and places that seemed like potential homes for the cats and looking for their feces as signs of their presence. It was incredible to see the amazing landscape but also the hard work and dedication that goes into the conservation efforts of WCS. I also got to see the images of the Andean Cats captured by the cameras in the evenings.

Source: Johanna Nesselhauf

My next adventure took me to the Patagonian Steppe near Zapala in Neuquén Province, where I teamed up with Anibal and Tomas. Experiencing the unique landscape of the Steppe was particularly rewarding, as I had studied it extensively during my time at WFEN. Alongside setting up, checking on, and installing camera traps and audio recorders, we visited a local farmer who had a guard dog, as part of WCS and WFEN’s initiative to prevent farmers from resorting to retaliatory killings of Pumas after attacks on livestock. From having worked with WFEN I had learned a lot about this project, but through this first-hand interaction, I got to hear the perspectives of the farmers and actually see how the guard dog project plays out in real life. 

Source: Johanna Nesselhauf

Towards the end of August, I spent several days in the Telsen area of Chubut Province, working with Emanuel and Leonel to learn more about WCS’s initiatives regarding Guanacos. We traversed the landscape in a 4×4, standing in the truck bed with binoculars to spot Guanacos and using a distance measurer and compass to record their locations. After learning so much about Guanacos at WFEN, it was incredible to see them in their natural habitat. Experiencing the vibrant flora and fauna that WCS and WFEN strive to conserve and witnessing the dedication that goes into these conservation projects, made my time as an intern with WFEN truly come alive.”

Source: Johanna Nesselhauf

Johanna’s continued efforts exemplify the mission of WFEN: to foster the next generation of conservation leaders who understand the importance of sustainable coexistence between people and wildlife. 

About Wildlife Friendly Enterprise Network (WFEN)

WFEN is a global community dedicated to the protection of wildlife in wild places and on agricultural lands, promoting sustainable livelihoods through the certification of products and services that adhere to the highest standards of wildlife stewardship and habitat conservation. Our Wildlife Friendly®️ certification programs ensure that consumers can make informed choices that contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.