Watch Tammie’s latest video in search of elephants in the Assamese jungle here!

Dr Tammie Matson is a zoologist and author who specialises in human- wildlife conflict.  In May 2010, Tammie won In Style magazine’s prestigious Women of Style award for the environment.  Her latest book, “Elephant Dance” has received rave reviews since its publication in October 2009.  Listen to radio interview with Tammie here.

“This beautifully written book by young Aussie conservationist Tammie Matson tells of her fascinating work – in which chilli peppers end up playing a key role – to reduce human-elephant conflict in Namibia and later India. It includes many encounters, sometimes terrifying and sometimes heart-wrenching, with Africa’s wild animals.  Elephant Dance will make you cry, then laugh, then jump, then laugh again.”

News Limited newspapers, 2009

Signed copies of Tammie’s first book “Dry Water – diving headfirst into Africa” are available here HALF PRICE.  Grab one now!  For a mega discount, buy both books now at heavily reduced prices.

WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION?

In 2009, just before having baby Sol, Tammie set up the not-for-profit organisation, Animal Works Australia, with acclaimed Sydney artist, Nafisa.

The mission of the organisation is to make conservation everyone’s business. You can do a lot for wildlife conservation at little cost to yourself.  Why not sponsor a baby Indian elephant and help it on its journey back to the wild?  Or come to one of Animal Works’ Imagine Africa dinners to support anti-poaching in Zimbabwe and meet your favourite African authors too.  Better still, join one of Animal Works’ expeditions to Africa and make a difference while you’re on holiday!  The next trip to Zimbabwe leaves on 27 September.  Learn more here!

Tammie spends a lot of her time blogging, facebooking and speaking at events about the issues facing wildlife in today’s world.   You can sign up for notifications of her blogs, become her facebook friend or enquire about having Tammie to speak at your event here.  If you want to learn more about conservation communication, why not come along to one of her workshops at Taronga Zoo?

ELEPHANTS IN NEED IN ASSAM, INDIA

Together with Nafisa, the pair are raising funds to support elephant conservation in Assam, India, largely through the sale of Nafisa’s inspired elephant art.  Check it out here.  You can get involved by sponsoring an orphaned elephant to help it on its journey back to the wild, buying milk for an elephant for a day, or purchasing your own piece of elephant art.  Because Animal Works is run entirely by volunteers, you can be certain that almost all of your donation is going to where its needed, not into administration or institutional costs.  Check out the 3 minute video of Animal Media Australia’s film on human-elephant conflict,  ‘Elephant Wars’ here!

A SPECIAL CAUSE – ANTI-POACHING IN ZIMBABWE

White rhino, Save valley Conservancy (S. Minassian)

This year Animal Works is hosted two ‘Imagine Africa’ dinners with several African authors including Tony Park and Peter Allison sharing their adventure stories to raise funds for anti-poaching in the Save Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe.  The two dinners combined raised about $20,000 for this cause!  Thanks to everyone who came along to support us.  The lucky winner of Animal Works’ and Epic Private Journey’s $5000 African safari was Claire Hamblin – congratulations Claire!  Read all about the night and see the photos here.

THINKING OF GOING TO AFRICA?

There are so many options!  Where do you start?  Tammie can help you organise your safari or at least point you in the right direction of great companies that treat the environment and the local people well.  And of course, there is always the option to join Tammie on an exclusive Animal Works expedition.  If you would like advice on where to go and what to do in your African travels, drop her a line here!

Sol's first African adventure