Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka facts for kids

Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka is a scientist from Madagascar. She works to protect nature and animals. She is a conservation biologist. Since 2011, she has led Madagasikara Voakajy. This group helps protect nature in Eastern Madagascar. She started her career studying bats from 2004 to 2007. In 2015, she won an award for young women in conservation.

Her Journey to Conservation

Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka became interested in nature when she was 13. She was camping at Andasibe National Park. There, she saw Indri lemurs. She loved their unique songs. This experience truly inspired her. It stayed with her as she continued her studies.

She began working with Madagasikara Voakajy in 2003. This was an internship while she studied at the University of Antananarivo. She studied Water and Forests there. During this time, she traveled to Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park. She studied a bat species called Triaenops menamena. This bat lives only in Madagascar.

After her studies in Madagascar, she earned a Master's degree. She studied Applied Ecology and Conservation. This was at the University of East Anglia in the UK. She then moved up in Madagasikara Voakajy. She became a project leader, then a project manager. In 2011, she became the director of the organization.

Protecting Nature in Madagascar

As director, Julie helps make agreements. These agreements are between the government, businesses, and local people. They work together to create special areas. These areas are managed by local communities. They help protect animals and plants that are in danger.

Julie also visits local villages. She teaches people about protecting nature. She focuses on how women can help. She believes Malagasy people want to save their country's amazing nature. She says groups like Madagasikara Voakajy show that it is possible. They inspire people to protect Madagascar's unique wildlife.

Awards and Special Recognitions

Julie Hanta Razafimanahaka has received many awards. In 2007, the UK government recognized her. They saw her as a promising conservation scientist. She received money for her Master's degree. This came from the Darwin Initiative grant.

In 2011, Julie joined the Kinship Conservation Fellows program. She continued her work there. She focused on trading species from Western Madagascar in a sustainable way. In 2014, she won the Marsh Award. This award is for leaders in land conservation. In August 2015, she received a big award. It was the Young Women Conservation Biology Award. This came from the Society for Conservation Biology.

She has also been asked to speak at important events. One example is the Bat Summit in Kenya. This event was organized by Bat Conservation International.

See also

• Conservation in Madagascar