Ecologist
Bruce joined The Malilangwe Trust in 1996 as an MSc student studying the post-drought changes to habitat for Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. After completing his MSc, he stayed on to conduct a Ph.D. through the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, on habitat and diet selection by elephants. He was employed as the Resident Ecologist at Malilangwe in 2006. Bruce holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (majoring in Grassland Science) and Master of Science both from the University of Natal, South Africa. He also holds a Doctorate in elephant foraging ecology from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.
The role of the Ecologist is to develop and manage an accounting system for the natural resources of the Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve and to design and implement research projects to address ecological problems. The goal is to use the data from the accounting system and research studies to guide a science-based approach to ecosystem management. In addition to his own research, Bruce supervises and mentors upcoming ecologists studying through Malilangwe.
Bruce finds all aspects of natural history fascinating but is particularly interested in how landscapes shape the foraging behaviour of wild animals.