Rasolozaka Natacha is one of Conservation Nation’s 2024 conservationist grant recipients. Hailing from Madagascar, she holds a master’s in business administration from Institut National des Sciences Comptables et de l’Administration d’Entreprises and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Université d’Antananarivo.
Natacha’s first conservation-related work experience was with the Cabinet Mitsinjo. While traveling with the organization throughout her home country, she developed a deep appreciation for Madagascar’s unique, often threatened biodiversity and felt an urge to protect it. As a university student, Natacha participated in a One Health* project in a protected reserve. She gained more experience after becoming involved with the Turtle Survival Alliance, helping rescue 500 confiscated radiated tortoises and conducting final health checks on ploughshare tortoises before their reintroduction into the wild. Natacha is currently a veterinarian for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust in Madagascar. She manages the veterinary care of captive and reintroduced critically endangered species, including Madagascar pochards (the world’s rarest duck species), ploughshare tortoises, Madagascan big-headed turtles, and flat-back spider tortoises.
* “…an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.” (World Health Organization, 2024)
On the Path to Becoming a Renowned Malagasy Conservation Leader
Natacha plans to use her grant funding for travel between Madagascar and England while pursuing her master’s in conservation leadership at the University of Bristol. Her ambition is to become a renowned Malagasy wildlife conservation expert who can meet the demands of an increasingly challenging conservation landscape in her home country. Her selected graduate program will equip her with the knowledge to lead financially sustainable conservation projects and conduct effective wildlife disease research in Madagascar. She also plans to network with leading conservation scientists and learn how to apply for more ambitious grants and awards to fund her work.
In addition to attending university, Natacha secured a placement at the Bristol Zoo. This opportunity will provide her with first-hand leadership experience and allow her to learn from zookeepers and veterinary staff with extensive clinical expertise in captive and free-ranging wildlife. Ultimately, she hopes that both her university and zoo experiences will help her grow as a conservation leader so she can serve as a role model to the local communities and youth of Madagascar.
