Interview with Jenna Stacy-Dawes

Written By: Mariana, a Junior Giraffe Club member

Jenna is part of the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance as a Researcher in Population Sustainability. Her research focuses on using socio-ecological methods to further understand and conserve reticulated giraffe populations in Kenya alongside a local research team, the Twiga Walinzi.

With her background in community based-conservation, spatial ecology, and geographic information systems, she is helping develop study methods for monitoring giraffe populations in northern Kenya. Jenna’s primary focus is coordinating and managing the day-to-day operations of the Twiga Walinzi Initiative in northern Kenya as well as designing and implementing research methods to better understand and conserve these endangered populations.

Junior Giraffe Club member Mariana asked Jenna a few questions about her journey, work in the field, and more:

1. When you volunteered for the San Diego Zoo in the Zoo Corps program, what was it like behind the scenes of such a large and world-renowned zoo?

It was incredible! I got to see all of the care and hours of work that goes into taking care of such a large population of animals. Getting to see the hours of work and research that goes into provide unique and engaging enrichment activities for each animal was so amazing. On one of our behind-the-scenes was a trip up to the research building (which is where I work now!) and it was so fascinating getting to see all the amazing conservation work being done and a huge reason why I wanted to get into field research.

2. Have you ever done any kind of solo or independent research on giraffes or has it always been with the San Diego Zoo or with Twiga Walinzi?

No! Before I got involved with this project I had never done any work on giraffe. This was my first introduction into the giraffe world and now I cannot imagine not getting to work with giraffe all the time. I feel so lucky that I fell into a role with such an amazing and iconic species.

3. What is your goal or aim for conservation with the field work you are doing with Twiga Walinzi?

Our overall (and very ambitious goal!) is to save giraffe populations from extinction while enhancing the livelihoods of the communities that live alongside giraffe. We know this is a very ambitious goal though and may take many years to achieve this so we aim to do this in many ways: through capacity building with the local communities, working to understand giraffe populations better, and contributing to Kenya’s national giraffe strategy.

4. What challenges have you been exposed to when going into your field and research?

For me, some of the biggest challenges are lack of funds for conservation work as well as feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work needed to save a species. Sometimes it feels like all the funds in the world would not be enough to help save giraffe and it can be easy to feel hopeless. However, then I get to go out to the field and work with our team and the communities in northern Kenya and I realize that while we may not be able to be everywhere, we are having an impact and the work we are doing is making a difference and that is what helps motivate me.

5. What has been your role so far in developing research ideas and carrying them forward?

I am really lucky in that I get to work with an incredible team here at SDZWA and in Kenya to develop new and innovative ideas! I get to come up with a lot of our research protocols and strategies alongside my team and figure out how to best implement them. Sometimes we have really great ideas that turn out not that great and other times we have ideas that end up being really successful! I think a big thing I have learned through managing this program is that not everything we do is going to be a success but that doesn’t mean it was a failure.

6. Who is a person that you look up to or has influenced you the most?

There are quite a few! One person that has always inspired me is Jane Goodall. I’ve looked up to her my whole life and even now have a quote from her hung in my daughter’s room! Her passion for wildlife and the natural world has always inspired me. I was in her roots and shoots club in middle school and know my involvement in this club was a big reason why I am so passionate about conservation.