Kezia Dreyer grew up in Cape Town, but her current life is linked to that of the endangered Knysna seahorse on the Garden Route. It is also not surprising she is a passionate freediver given how much she loves the ocean. She completed her Honours degree in Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of the Western Cape and is currently placed with South African National Parks (SANParks) as a marine biology intern. Her work focuses on three ecologically significant estuarine systems which are the exclusive habitat of the Knysna seahorse: the Keurbooms, Knysna and Swartvlei estuaries. She is also involved in rocky intertidal surveys and contributing to estuarine management plans and situation assessments. 

We asked her a few questions to find out more about her work, studies and inspirations:   

What are you passionate about? 

I am passionate about protecting and conserving the environment: both marine and terrestrial animals and plants. I am also passionate about educating people of all ages in my community about the environment.   

What inspired your choice of study? 

I have always felt a strong connection to nature. I grew up visiting my grandparents in a small coastal town and my love for the ocean blossomed since then. I am most content when I am experiencing and learning about the environment, so studying conservation was just a logical next step.  

What excites you about your internship? 

I look forward to getting hands-on experience in the field of marine biology and making a meaningful contribution to conservation (especially research involving the endangered and endemic Knysna seahorse). I also look forward to learning as much as I can from my mentor and other SANParks scientists I work with. 

What are your expectations of this internship? 

I expect to gain many valuable skills and knowledge in the field of marine biology. After this internship, I hope to be a better scientist, ready to enter the workforce and contribute meaningful research to my field. 

What contribution do you hope to make towards a future in which people and nature thrive? 

I hope to improve estuarine conservation strategies in a way that benefits both the ecosystem and the local communities. This involves first gaining as much knowledge as possible through research and then successfully implementing strategies. I believe in the importance of communicating scientific findings to the community and including local knowledge in research.   

Who inspires you most and why? 

My mother inspires me the most for a multitude of reasons. She is kind, hardworking and most importantly, spreads love wherever she goes.