EDGE fellow Abdullahi Hussein Ali has recently been recognised by the American Society of Mammalogists for his work on the in Kenya. He has received the 2013 William T. Hornaday award which is awarded to a student who has made a significant contribution to the conservation of mammals and their habitats.
Ali has been working to research and conserve the hirola, which is one of the world’s most endangered antelope. By combining research using GPS telemetry, satellite imagery and a large-scale predator exclusion zone with community engagement and education Ali has been able to “disentangle the relative role of predation and that of range degradation in driving the continued decline of hirola”. Ali’s work will now be used by the Kenya Wildlife Service to inform future conservation actions for the hirola.
This award highlights the hard work and dedication that Ali has shown throughout his EDGE fellowship. Ali is currently working towards his PhD at the University of Wyoming and hopes to use his experience and knowledge to help with hirola conservation in the future.
When asked about his experience of the EDGE fellowship Ali said “The EDGE fellowship was a blessing in my career; coming in at the beginning of my dissertation work, it has not only helped me advance my career goals but also in the highlighting the plight of the critically endangered hirola antelope. For the two years of my fellowship, I received a life changing professional experience through the interaction with seasoned experts that the programme offers. I say thank you for the opportunity.”
Find out more about the EDGE fellows programme here.