Benin Republic

Chadrack AZIHOU holds a master’s degree in wildlife management from the University of Abomey-Calavi, Benin. He is dedicated to studying the spatial ecology and anthropogenic pressures on the white-bellied pangolin. He aims to contribute to addressing the threats facing this endangered species.

Nigeria

​Philip Iyoha is an M.Sc. student in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Benin, Nigeria, researching bat ecology. He focuses on quantifying ecosystem services, particularly insect pest suppression. He received the Prince Bernhard Nature Fund to study bats' role in pest control in rice fields in Edo State, Nigeria.

Benin Republic

Elfried holds a Master’s in Wildlife Management and Development from Benin's National University of Agriculture. He focuses on bat conservation, recognizing their crucial role in ecosystem services. His research explores how bats adapt to different habitats and interact with their environment. Elfried is also an avid bird lover.

Burkina Faso

Born in Burkina Faso, Thiombiano Palamanga Parfait is an early career researcher and West African Mammal Fellow 2024. He’s also a student representative for GbatNET. A Ph.D. candidate at Joseph Ki Zerbo University, his research explores the role of insectivorous bats in natural pest control through genetic metabarcoding analysis of bat diet.

Cameroon

As a PhD student at the University of Yaounde, Cameroon, I am passionate about natural sciences, biodiversity conservation, and ecology. My research focuses on bat diversity, specifically the characterization of their echolocation calls. I aim to contribute significantly to the knowledge and conservation of bats in Africa.

Ghana

A PhD candidate of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana. Her research interests include conservation of small mammals and Non - Timber Forest Products, habitat ecology and impacts of forestry management on small mammals in forest ecosystems. Her study explores how different logging systems affect small mammal diversity in Ghana's forest ecosystem.

Senegal

Gaye Laye Diop is a research engineer at the National Laboratory of Livestock and Veterinary Research within the Senegalese Institute of Agricultural Research. Holding a Master’s degree in Animal Biology from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, she is currently a PhD student focusing on rodent species diversity and their role in transmitting viral zoonotic diseases.

Cote D’ivoire

Passionate about biodiversity and conservation, Djako Judicaël Beugré holds a Master’s degree in Conservation Biology and Wildlife Management in Côte d'Ivoire. He participated in bat community diversity study in Mabi-Yaya Nature Reserve and is currently studying the relationship between fruit bats and cave-dwelling bats in Western Côte d'Ivoire.

Nigeria

I’m Dickson, a conservation biologist and 2024 fellow of WAMF. Bats are one of my fascinations. Broadly, I am interested in understanding wildlife population drivers and their implications for biodiversity conservation. I’m currently looking at the anthropogenic and ecological drivers of cave roost use by bats in Northern Nigeria.