A SCIENCE graduate with a special interest in elephants and – closer to home – wild boar is appealing for help to realise her dream of working in wildlife conservation in Africa.

Bex Saunders from Lydney has been offered a six-month trial in Malawi that could lead to a long-term role, but time is running out for her to raise the necessary funds to get there.

She is currently saving every penny she can from doing several different jobs, including at Freedom Leisure in Lydney and Newent as a duty supervisor, lifeguard and swimming teacher, lifeguarding at Bathurst pool, and work in Hereford.

And despite the summer heat, the former Wyedean School student has even committed to wearing an elephant onesie for more than a month outside work to highlight her dilemma, including at a recent screening of The Lion King thanks to a free ticket.

“Apart from work I have worn it all the time,” she says. “I’ve even resorted to carrying a spray water bottle around with me to try and keep cool.

“People have been so supportive of me. Anyone who knows me knows how hard I have worked for this, what with my degree and my masters and with my volunteering. And anyone who has spoken to me can see what a good cause it is for.

“I’ve been offered the opportunity because I have a BSc (Hons) degree in Animal Science and a Masters in Research Anthrozoology from Hartpury University,” adds Bex.

“I’ve also spent six months volunteering on a reserve in South Africa.

“With my education I could help with the data analysis of the research they already have in Malawi and hopefully set up other research projects designed to protect the wildlife there and work with local people to reduce human-wildlife conflict.”

As part of her Masters, Bex did a dissertation on wild boar in the Forest of Dean and residents’ opinions and experiences of them.

In South Africa she learnt about running a reserve, anti-poaching techniques, including in relation to the white rhino, and key research methods for protecting the environment.

Coming from a single parent family, Bex supported herself through higher education by working at local leisure centres and she’s been trying her hardest to do the same in order to get to Malawi.

But despite all her efforts, she’s still agonisingly short of her £2,000 target, having raised nearly half the sum by the start of this week, including from a raffle.

“Thank you so much to everyone that has helped me so far, whether it be sponsoring me online, in person or by taking part in my raffle,” she said.

“I managed to raise £112 in my raffle alone so that’s amazing. I am almost halfway to my target amount and it is thanks to every single one of you that has helped in some way.

“I’m saving every pen- ny I can from my jobs, but I’m still over £1,000 short – to cover flights (£570), malaria tablets (£230), yellow fever injection (£92), rabies injection (£190), travel insurance (£193) and visa (£140).

“I am the luckiest girl to be given this opportunity to help others. All of my life I have wanted to work with people and animals in Africa where I feel I can make a real difference.

“This job is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I’m just hoping I can get the support I need,” she added.

She has also been asked by the reserve to ask if anyone has any working digital cameras or unlocked android phones that they are not using.

“These would be used by the patrol teams on the reserve and could help take photos for evidence of illegal activity and to keep in contact with one another on patrols, so please let me know if anyone has these lying around as this would be so helpful,” she says.

For more information or to contribute to her crowdfunding efforts, search for Rebecca Saunders at www.justgiving.com or Bex Saunders on Facebook.