Meet the women leading CCF’s Scat Detection Dog Team

As March draws to a close each year, Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF) sets aside a dedicated week to shine a spotlight on the significance of our scat programme. This initiative is pivotal in our ongoing efforts to protect the cheetah population. Through the expertise of CCF’s trained scat detection dogs, we’re able to pinpoint cheetah scat in the wilderness. These invaluable samples are then brought back to CCF’s genetics lab, where the genetic profile of the cheetah responsible is unravelled.

This year, we’re thrilled to introduce you to the remarkable women behind CCF’s scat detection dog team – Eveline Ikondja and Ndatitangi Iyaloo Amadhila!

Eveline, driven by a profound passion for conservation, wildlife, and canine companionship, is currently on the path to certification as a canine conservation detection dog handler. A distinguished alumna of the University of Namibia, Eveline holds an Honors degree in environmental biology. Presently, she serves as a Canine Officer at CCF, dedicating her days to gathering invaluable data alongside CCF’s scat detection dogs. Through their collaborative efforts, Eveline contributes significantly to our understanding of animal behaviour, population dynamics, and habitat requirements.

Equally committed to wildlife conservation and environmental well-being, Ndatitangi Iyaloo Amadhila holds dual roles as a Scat Detection Intern and a Kraal Intern at CCF. With a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management from Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Studies from the International University of Management (IUM), Ndatitangi brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to her work at CCF.

Women have played a pivotal role in CCF’s scat detection dog team from its inception. In fact, the team was founded by women! In 2008, the pioneering steps were taken with the selection and training of CCF’s very first scat detection dog – a border collie named Finn – by Christine (Chris) Bartos, then the curator of Ungulates and Small Mammals at the Philadelphia Zoo. Today, this tradition continues with Eveline and Iyaloo at the helm, embodying the legacy of female leadership and dedication within CCF.