Marthin Kasaona
Marthin is an experienced conservation scientist for the Namibian Ministry of the Environment and Tourism, based in Ethosha National Park at the Okaukuejo Research Centre. He specialises in small mammal conservation and fire risk assessment. Marthin completed his BSc at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (South Africa) and his MSc at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa).
Growing up in northern Namibia, he has extensive experience of conservencies and human-wildlife conflict. Marthin first got involved with bat research in 2010 as part of Rachael's research project on cave-dwelling bats - supported through the collaboration of staff at the Etosha Research Centre, Ministry of the Environment and Tourism. Marthin is the lead Namibian collaborator helping with in-country support and fieldwork and continues to support bat conservation through his involvement with Bats without Borders. With Marthin's extensive experience and background we are delighted to have Marthin as one of our Advisory Board members - supporting Conservation Advocacy, Public Engagement and Education and Research - helping to promote a positive image of bats in Namibia.
Growing up in northern Namibia, he has extensive experience of conservencies and human-wildlife conflict. Marthin first got involved with bat research in 2010 as part of Rachael's research project on cave-dwelling bats - supported through the collaboration of staff at the Etosha Research Centre, Ministry of the Environment and Tourism. Marthin is the lead Namibian collaborator helping with in-country support and fieldwork and continues to support bat conservation through his involvement with Bats without Borders. With Marthin's extensive experience and background we are delighted to have Marthin as one of our Advisory Board members - supporting Conservation Advocacy, Public Engagement and Education and Research - helping to promote a positive image of bats in Namibia.
Get to know Marthin
What sparked your interest in bats?
I have an interest in small mammals, but even though bats are mammals I was not really interested in them until Rachael Cooper-Bohannon come along with her bat research project looking at the distribution, ecology and conservation of cave-dwelling bats in southern Africa with Namibia selected as one of her study site. My involvement in the fieldwork allowed me to realise that bats are fascinating and their existence might be under threat - there are not many bat enthusiasts in Namibia and bat conservation is always on the backburner.
What is your favourite quote?
Critical thinking is when you think about your own thinking [unknown]
Where is your favourite place and why?
My favourite place is Epupa Waterfall, just further north of Opuwo in Kunene region of Namibia. I like the landscape and the waterfall itself is amazing.
Tell us something we would not know about you from your photo?
The level of higher education I have is not because I knew the importance of education at that time but because when the school close for the holiday I had to herd goats. School felt like a good resting place for me.... Therefore, my 'cunning' plan was to make sure I could keep studying so I had to do well in order to stay longer in school and avoid becoming a permanent goat herder! I didn’t like herding goats and chasing after jackals trying to kill the goats. Only when I was in grade 12 (final year of high school), did I realise the importance of education.
I have an interest in small mammals, but even though bats are mammals I was not really interested in them until Rachael Cooper-Bohannon come along with her bat research project looking at the distribution, ecology and conservation of cave-dwelling bats in southern Africa with Namibia selected as one of her study site. My involvement in the fieldwork allowed me to realise that bats are fascinating and their existence might be under threat - there are not many bat enthusiasts in Namibia and bat conservation is always on the backburner.
What is your favourite quote?
Critical thinking is when you think about your own thinking [unknown]
Where is your favourite place and why?
My favourite place is Epupa Waterfall, just further north of Opuwo in Kunene region of Namibia. I like the landscape and the waterfall itself is amazing.
Tell us something we would not know about you from your photo?
The level of higher education I have is not because I knew the importance of education at that time but because when the school close for the holiday I had to herd goats. School felt like a good resting place for me.... Therefore, my 'cunning' plan was to make sure I could keep studying so I had to do well in order to stay longer in school and avoid becoming a permanent goat herder! I didn’t like herding goats and chasing after jackals trying to kill the goats. Only when I was in grade 12 (final year of high school), did I realise the importance of education.
