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Wild about cheetahs
Youngstown native follows her dream to Africa to work closely with animals
YOUNGSTOWN
A city native is continuing her passion for working with cheetahs.
Kate Echement, 28, will soon lead a “Large Carnivore Re-Introduction Project” at the N/a’an ku se Lodge to support wildlife and vulnerable people in Solitaire, Namibia, in Africa. She spoke with The Vindicator via e-mail from Namibia.
Echement and her colleague, Matt Cleverley, will collect biomedical samples on leopards, cheetahs and spotted hyenas at N/a’an ku se. She has worked for the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia since 2008.
“We’ve worked specifically with cheetahs for the past three years and are looking forward to expanding our knowledge and experience to other large predators,” she wrote.
Echement returned to her alma mater, Cardinal Mooney High School, in January 2010 and said she enjoyed the experience.
“I wanted those kids to realize there is a whole world of possibilities, to think outside the box, travel, experience life while you’re young,” she said. “I wasn’t an extraordinary student, just average, but I worked hard and didn’t care that people thought I was weird for wanting to give up everything to run off to Africa.”
Her parents, Jim and Phyllis Echement, said Kate’s career path reminds them of the saying, “You will never work a day of your life if you love what you are doing.”
The two went to visit Kate at CCF and saw firsthand how their daughter handled working with more than 50 large cats for long hours.
“It’s every parents’ prayers answered to see your child grow into a happy and fulfilled adult doing what they love...,” Phyllis said.
Kate said that she encourages anyone interested in experiencing what it’s like to be a wildlife biologist to volunteer or intern with programs statewide or abroad, such as CCF and N/a’an ku se.
“I will give a warning to those coming out to Africa though: You won’t want to leave,” she wrote. “Once Africa is in your blood, you will always have the pull to go back.”