As a child, Lillien Jones (BYU ’28) loved the wild animals that would venture into her yard—deer, coyotes, rabbits, and hawks—and she visited the Hogle Zoo every chance she could. Then, while taking a zoology class in high school, she expanded her passion from just viewing animals to studying them and realized she wanted a career in wildlife sciences.
Now at BYU, Jones studies wildlife and conservation with a desire to see animals in their natural habitats. She recently returned from a study abroad to southern Africa (Namibia, Zambia, Botswana, and South Africa) where she was able to explore the wildlife and learn about efforts to protect their environments.
The trip changed how Jones thought about conservation goals. AfriCat works to save big cats like leopards and cheetahs from farmers in Namibia. These cats eat farmers' cattle, which destroys their livelihoods. AfriCat works to minimize conflicts by curating the Okonjima Nature Reserve and teaching farmers sustainable farming practices. Jones was inspired by AfriCat’s efforts. “It is an environmental issue, but it is also a very human issue,” Jones mused. “Dealing with conservation means that you have to work through and with the community. You can't work against the community. We need to have empathy and work together to develop solutions.”
Dealing with conservation means that you have to work through and with the community. You can't work against the community. We need to have empathy and work together to develop solutions.
On various safari excursions, Jones and her fellow students saw a number of animals, some expected and others unexpected. Jones’s favorites were the black and white rhinos she saw at Etosha National Park in Namibia. She was thrilled to spy six in their natural habitat from their safari van. Animals like honey badgers, chameleons, flamingoes, and jackals in the desert regions of Namibia were a surprise that she didn’t anticipate to see. She also loved identifying the various species of antelope and impala in each country.
With every new animal sighting, her appreciation for God’s creations grew. “It was amazing to see different natural beauty than we have back home and to see God's hand in that,” Jones enthused. “The trip also gave me a greater appreciation for home and the beauty here just as much as it did there.”
Talking with the guides enlightened her view of climate change impacting Sub-Saharan Africa. Some regions are receiving more rain than expected and others are in extreme drought. This radical change in climate is affecting both the people and wildlife. “They don’t know how to prepare and don't have the infrastructure, so they’re being hit harder than we would,” said Jones.
Jones is grateful to the donors who provided the experiential learning grants that made this trip financially feasible for her. “I've always dreamed of being able to see incredible places and incredible animals but I've never gotten to. It’s not something that I was anticipating having the resources to do,” shared Jones. Without their support, she would not have had the opportunity to study abroad and learn about wildlife conservation. This experience opened Jones’ eyes and has reinforced her desire to become a wildlife veterinarian.
