Dr Tali Hoffman

Postdoctoral Research Fellow MammalMAP Project Coordinator
Email: tali [dot] hoffman [at] uct [dot] ac [dot] za
PhD Thesis: [PDF full-thesis 24.6 MB]

Tali’s interest in conservation developed when she became an overland tour guide on camping safaris in southern and east Africa in early 2001. Being an urbanite she’d not had much exposure to the wonder of the natural world as a child, and she was awestruck by its beauty. She decided then to take an active role in conservation by enrolling to study zoology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2003.

Tali’s PhD in Zoology - completed in 2011 - focused on enhancing the understanding of the spatial ecology of baboons in South Africa’s Cape Peninsula so as to improve the local baboon management and conservation strategies. Because of the semi-urban quality of her study site, it was imperative that, from the outset, Tali’s thesis not be a purely academic pursuit. Instead, in addition to the scientific component of her doctoral work Tali focused on disseminating information to local environmental authorities and engaging in public debates, workshops and education sessions (at school level, and at community meetings).

Tali’s doctoral experience helped shape her main conservation interests: understanding animal landscape requirements, ensuring the conservation and preservation of the ecological areas critical to their survival and persistence, and conservation education. She now firmly believes that successful conservation endeavours are reliant on the marriage of strong science, community education and community involvement. This belief is what led Tali to be convinced of the importance of MammalMAP, which will not only yield information fundamental to the effective preservation of African mammals, but also offers the opportunity to involve people across Africa in vital conservation projects.

Publications

2012

 2011

In review

 

Presentations

(2011)     9th Annual Meeting Of The Primate Ecology And Genetics Group:

“Using spatial ecology to inform baboon management in the Cape Peninsula.”

(2010)     International Primatological Society XXIII Congress:

“The importance of spatial ecology in the effective conservation of chacma baboons in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.”

(2009)     Fynbos Forum: Working together for a Living Landscape:

“Is space a limiting factor for the chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) of the Cape Peninsula?”

(2009)     50th Anniversary Conference of the Zoological Society of South Africa (ZSSA):

“Is space a limiting factor for the chacma baboons (Papio ursinus) of the Cape Peninsula?”

(2008)     “Interfaces” – Fynbos Forum and Arid Zone Ecology Form: Linking across Biome Boundaries:

“The spatial ecology of the chacma baboon (Papio Ursinus) population of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.”

(2007)     21st Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB):

“The spatial ecology of a semi-urban chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) troop: a case study in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.”

(2007)     PEGG: 5th Annual Meeting Of The Primate Ecology And Genetics Group:

“The spatial ecology of a semi-urban chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) troop: a case study in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa.”

 

Scholarships and Awards

(2011) First Prize (Student talk), Primate Ecology and Genetics Group, Mtunzini, South Africa.

(2010) University of Cape Town, Doctoral Package Project for academic excellence in doctoral research.

(2010) National Research Foundation. Travel bursary to ‘International Primatological Society’ conference, Kyoto, Japan.

(2009) First Prize (Student talk), Fynbos Forum, Bredasdorp, South Africa.

(2009) Second Prize (Student talk), Zoological Society of South Africa,Durban,South Africa.

(2008-11) National Research Foundation, Prestigious Doctoral Scholarship.

(2008) Second Prize (Student talk), Interfaces, Oudtshoorn, South Africa.

(2006) Alec Brown Memorial Scholarship for top Honours student.