Maddie's biography
From an early age, Maddie has been passionate about wildlife. Safari experiences in Kenya as a child allowed her to witness interactions between animals, capturing her imagination and eventually inspiring her to pursue a degree in wildlife and conservation.
Maddie’s studies at the University of Reading enabled her to learn about and observe many animal species. Her work included a dissertation thesis on the behaviour of South African predators. Her degree also gave Maddie the opportunity to travel to South Africa to work and run surveys within a small game reserve, taking part in activities such as tracking white rhino on foot, catching shark pups with a handheld dip net at night, tracking African wild dogs, tagging nesting hawksbill turtles, and even learning how to identify species of rhino from its droppings… a useful skill to have when living in the UK!
After university, Maddie headed out to work on a conservation project in the Seychelles. This involved the monitoring and protection of numerous species, including hawksbill turtles, lemon sharks, and Aldabra giant tortoises. She also indulged in a bit of island hopping on her days off, enjoying everything that the islands had to offer.