17: Sterrins Wild World

Sterrin Smalbrugge is a Dutch ecologist and herpetologist, you may recognize her social media handle @sterrinswildworld. After learning of the death of her hero Steve Irwin as a young child, Sterrin made a promise to Steve and to herself to pursue a life of wildlife conservation. Sterrin has worked in Ivory Coast studying the effects of climate change on crocodilian species, and she has also studied the relationship between habitat characteristics and diversity if reptiles in South Africa.

Part of Sterrin’s goal is to educate the public on the important role reptiles play in the ecosystem.  She hosts an educational show for children and is also working on a reptile-related children’s book! Sterrin is also a venomous snake expert and has taught courses for safe handling techniques for venomous reptiles.

For more information on the documentary we talked about in the show, please visit: Conservation Front  or follow them on Instagram @theconservationfront 

For a review of Sterrin’s research to date click here: https://www.sterrinswildworld.nl/en/research/projects/