AllAfrica has launched an eight-part podcast series, Wild Basil, featuring remarkable women who contributed to peace and development through their innovative work on biodiversity and conservation and addresses the competition for scarce resources in Southern African, including Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Angola, Botswana and South Africa. Above all, their work contributes to conflict prevention and resolution in their communities and their countries. [AllAfrica's elevation of the voices of African peacebuilders is supported by funding from the philanthropic Carnegie Corporation of New York.] 

Episode 3 introduces Moreangels Mbizah, a scientist whose work began with the study of carnivores. As a child growing up in a small town, Moreangels developed a love for the bush but she learned little about the abundance of wildlife surrounding her. When studying at university she had the opportunity to learn about wildlife and about conservation for the first time. She was hooked. Her PhD thesis focused on the study of lion behaviour. More recently Moreangels established an NGO - Wildlife Conservation Action - whose mission is to protect wildlife, empower communities and promote climate-smart practices.

In this episode, Moreangels expresses her commitment to educating youth as well as the challenges confronting women working in a male-oriented scientific world. She shares with us her scientific findings, as well as her love of the bush with its tantalizing scents and sounds.

Produced by MUVA and directed by Luize Guimeraes Scherer Navarra and Michael Quenen, with support from Stephanie Urdang and others.