Connecting Habitats, Saving Elephants: Hilde Vanleeuwe on Wilder Things and the Future of Wildlife

In this inspiring episode of Robin’s Nest, Dr. Robin Ganzert sits down with Hilde Vanleeuwe, Ph.D., a fearless conservation biologist whose 30-year career has been devoted to protecting Africa’s iconic wildlife, particularly elephants. From rescuing birds in her childhood home in Belgium to leading groundbreaking conservation programs across Africa, Hilde shares her journey of perseverance, passion, and purpose.Listeners will hear about her extraordinary fieldwork, from walking over 500 km of elephant transects on Mt. Kenya to transforming elephant protection in the Congo, and her innovative efforts with Wilder Things, a conservation initiative focused on connecting habitats through riparian wildlife corridors. Hilde also reflects on the significance of being a finalist for the Kiessling Prize and shares her vision for scaling ecological connectivity to help species adapt to climate change. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of the impact one dedicated individual can have on the future of wildlife and wild places.