CAREERS IN CONSERVATION – Darren Pietersen

Darren Pietersen has joined the EWT’s Soutpansberg Protected Area Programme (SPA) as Reserve and Ecology Manager at Medike Nature Reserve. Here is a little bit about Darren’s journey to a career in conservation with the EWT.

Job title: Reserve and Ecology Manager

Location: Medike Nature Reserve, Soutpansberg

Where did you grow up?

Kruger National Park

What are your hobbies/things you like to do in your spare time? 

What spare time? Most weekends are spent reviewing articles for journals or reading some of the myriad scientific publications I have downloaded and don’t get time to read. But sometimes, I get out and do some birding or looking for reptiles and amphibians. And once every couple of years, I get a chance to go scuba-diving again.

Any pets?

Two rescue dogs. And my grandmother.

Favourite animal and why: Temminck’s pangolin – because they are solitary, predominantly nocturnal and rarely seen. Much like me.

Favourite food?

Boerewors and slap chips

Pet peeve?

That common sense isn’t nearly as common as it ought to be.

Why did you want to work for the EWT?

Because the EWT is one of the oldest, best-established conservation organisations in Africa, with an outstanding track record and reputation. I have collaborated with or worked with several EWT staff in various capacities and have gotten to know many of them. Working for the EWT in a practical conservation role is a wonderful privilege I am looking forward to.

What excites you about this new position?

I am looking forward to the fieldwork, the challenges, and the location. I enjoy research, but I also enjoy working physically, and above all, I enjoy being outdoors. This position promises to check all the boxes – a lot of work needs to be done on the reserve, and I look forward to tackling the various projects. At the same time, there is scope for research, and even if time doesn’t allow me to undertake the research myself, it will be nice to once again guide a student through their early scientific career. And the Soutpansberg is beautiful!

What are you passionate about? 

Conservation, particularly of the more obscure/overlooked species.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received, and who did it come from?

Some of the best advice I received was to always be honest, which I received from my parents. Of course, I grew up in an era when parents could still use methods to drive that point home!

What is your go-to feel-good song? 

Bon Jovi’s It’s My Life.