Meet The Team

Prof. Flora John Magige is the Principal of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CoNAS) at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and an Associate Professor in Wildlife Ecology. Her research focuses on wildlife ecology, human–wildlife interactions, conservation biology, and biodiversity management, with particular interest in African mammals and community-based conservation. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and has contributed to several national and international conservation initiatives.

Within the HAZINA Collections Development Project, Prof. Magige provides strategic oversight and institutional coordination of project activities at CoNAS. She supports project implementation, financial management, capacity building, and partnership development, working closely with the Natural History Museum, London, and other international collaborators to strengthen biodiversity collections, research infrastructure, and training opportunities in Tanzania.

Dr. Flora Stephano is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Flora has extensive experience in teaching, research, and academic leadership. Her research lies at the interface of neurophysiology, developmental biology, and environmental health sciences. Within the HAZINA Collections Development Project, Flora serves as Project Manager, supervising and facilitating internal project coordination. Her interests include scientific capacity building and fostering international collaborations.

John completed his B.Sc. at the University of Dar es Salaam in 2012 before volunteering for more than a year with the anti-poaching unit in the Selous Game Reserve. In late 2013, he joined the Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Dar es Salaam, working in the herpetology section under the mentorship of Prof. Kim Howell. He completed his PhD in 2026 at the same Department. His research interests span the natural history, ecology, biology and taxonomy of amphibians and reptiles, as well as human interactions with these groups. Trained in biodiversity conservation, he has conducted extensive herpetological surveys in remote areas across Tanzania for over a decade. Beyond his academic and conservation work, John is passionate about wildlife photography and is a National Geographic Photo Ark EDGE Fellow.

Dr Simon Loader is a researcher at the Natural History Museum working on African biodiversity, natural history collections, and conservation research, with a particular focus on amphibians and reptiles of East Africa. His work combines field research, taxonomy, collection development, and international collaboration to improve understanding and preservation of biodiversity.

Within the HAZINA Collections Development Project, Simon supports the development of modern natural history collections infrastructure and training programmes in Tanzania, working closely with colleagues at the University of Dar es Salaam and international partners. His interests include collection management, biodiversity documentation, capacity building, and supporting the next generation of African researchers and curators.

Dr. Tim Davenport is a conservation biologist, zoologist, and science leader with more than 30 years of experience working across East and Central Africa. Based in Arusha, Tanzania, he currently serves as Africa Director for Re:wild, where he leads conservation initiatives focused on biodiversity protection, species recovery, protected area management, and community engagement across the continent. Prior to joining Re:wild, Tim held senior leadership positions with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), including Director of Species Conservation & Science for Africa and Country Director for Tanzania. His work has contributed to the establishment of multiple protected areas, large-scale habitat restoration, and the discovery of several species new to science, including the kipunji monkey (Rungwecebus kipunji). His research and conservation interests span wildlife ecology, biodiversity conservation, protected area management, and environmental education. (Re:wild)

Christoph Liedtke is a researcher at the Biological Station of Doñana in Southern Spain. Broadly speaking, he is interested in applying different approaches to studying the systematics, biogeography and evolution of amphibians especially traits related to the larval stage and reproductive modes. His expertise in amphibian systematics, but also data curation and management will come to play in the Hazina Collections Development Project, where he is involved in training of digital collections management.

Dr. Yeremia Japhet Chuhila is a Lecturer in the Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, College of Natural and Applied Sciences (CoNAS) at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. His research focuses on conservation genetics and population genetics, with particular emphasis on tilapiine cichlid fishes of the genus Oreochromis. His work integrates field research, taxonomy and molecular approaches for accurate identification and placement of fauna to their appropriate taxa. He has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and supervised a couple of undergrade and postgraduate students in the field of conservation genetics, molecular biology and evolutionary biology.

Within the HAZINA Collections Development Project, Dr. Chuhila serves as the deputy science coordinator responsible for overseeing the welfare of MSc students supported under HAZINA Scholarship programme as well as coordinating training activities and the project public engagement initiatives. He works closely with both the HAZINA team at the University of Dar es Salaam and international partners to ensure the successful implementation of the project. His interests include taxonomy, biodiversity surveys, and capacity building.

Dr. Wilirk Ngalason Mrosso is an academic staff and a researcher serving in the Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, College of Natural and Applied Sciences at University of Dar es Salaam since 2005. He holds a PhD in Zoology and has extensive experience in teaching, research, and academic supervision at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he actively engages in scientific research and consultancy services in the field of biodiversity conservation. His areas of specialization include the inventory, taxonomy, ecology, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles.

Within the HAZINA Collections Development Project, he collaborates with colleagues from University of Dar es Salaam, the Natural History Museum, and other international partners to strengthen specimen collection and develop biodiversity databases at the University of Dar es Salaam.

Martha Chiduo is affiliated with the Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Her academic interests are in zoology, biodiversity conservation, and wildlife research. Through her involvement in university-based research and collections, she contributes to helping with logistics towards building knowledge of Tanzania’s biodiversity and supports initiatives that strengthen biological collections and conservation science. As part of the HAZINA/Collections Development project, she contributes to activities that improve the documentation and management of natural history collections while developing her research skills in biodiversity science.

Fedha Msigwa is a Curator in the Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation at the University of Dar es Salaam, contributing to the Hazina Project through the management, preservation and promotion of biodiversity collections. she is responsible for the curation, cataloguing, digitization and long-term preservation of zoological specimens, including reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and insects. His work supports research, teaching, biodiversity monitoring and conservation initiatives.

Prior to joining the University of Dar es Salaam, she worked as a Curator at the National Natural History Museum in Arusha for more than two years, where she gained extensive experience in specimen preparation, collection management, documentation, exhibitions and museum-based research support.

Her professional interests include biodiversity conservation, acquisition of natural history specimen, taxonomy, specimen preservation, collection digitization, museum education, public engagement and the use of biological collections to advance scientific research and learning. she is more inspired in working with reptilian diversity in Tanzania and therefore she is committed to strengthening biodiversity knowledge and supporting conservation efforts in Tanzania and beyond.

Zubery Kombo is a Tanzanian conservation and biodiversity management professional with broad field and institutional experience across wildlife research, ecological monitoring, and conservation governance. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science and Conservation from the University of Dar es Salaam (2023), where he developed a strong foundation in biodiversity assessment, species documentation, and environmental data management. Prior to joining the HAZINA Project, Zubery served as Executive Manager at SULEDO Community Forest Trust one of Tanzania's flagship community managed forest reserves where he led multi - stakeholder conservation programmes and strengthened institutional data systems. He also contributed to large carnivore research with Lion Landscapes and conducted biodiversity inventory work under the Tanzania Landscape Restoration Organization (TaLRO) and UNEP supported research project at Katavi National Park. As a Curator within the HAZINA Project, Zubery brings hands - on experience in biodiversity documentation, digital data management, and scientific fieldwork to support the long-term development of the University of Dar es Salaam's natural history collections for research, training, and public engagement.

Ardgard Essau Mwamgeni is a wildlife researcher whose passion for wildlife began long before he stopped pursuing a career in medicine. It dates back to his childhood, when he would sit in his neighbours’ living rooms and switch the television from Cartoon Network to National Geographic.

With more than four years of herpetological research experience in the Eastern Arc Mountains, Ardgard has always aspired to contribute to wildlife conservation. Amid ongoing deforestation which represents not only habitat loss but also a major driver of species extinction he found a meaningful way to contribute.

​

As a curator under the Hazina Project, he applies his herpetological knowledge and skills to research and specimen collection. Through this work, he contributes to studying the past, understanding the present, and making informed decisions for the future of wildlife conservation.

Beyond scientific research, Ardgard is interested in creative pursuits such as nature photography and videography. He plans to integrate these artistic skills into conservation and public awareness initiatives and looks forward to seeing where this journey leads.

Innocent Martine is a wildlife biologist from Tanzania. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science and Conservation from the University of Dar es Salaam. He has field experience from several conservation areas, including Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where he participated in wildlife surveys, camera trapping, and biodiversity monitoring. His main interest is herpetology, particularly reptile research and conservation. Currently, he is pursuing a Master of Science degree under the Hazina Project, focusing on specimen curation and the study of Tanzania’s reptile diversity.

Aman Ahmed Hamisi is a young passionate conservationist holding a bachelor of science in applied zoology from the University of Dar es salaa and currently, he pursues MSc wildlife ecology at the same University under the HAZINA project scholarship. He has a strong interest in aquatic biology and ecology with a specific focus on Fish biodiversity trends under environmental and climatic changes. His work goes deeper on understanding and documenting Tanzania’s biodiversity through scientific researches, specimen-based studies and biodiversity data management. Through the HAZINA project, Aman as MSc student contributes to fish wet collection management, specimen cataloging, digitisation of fish collections and biodiversity documentation, supporting the long-term preservation and accessibility of Tanzania’s natural heritage through refurbished and operational wet collection museum at the University of Dar es salaam. In addition to his aquatic biodiversity interests, Aman has an experience in wildlife conservation, community engagement, conducting biodiversity surveys and human-wildlife coexistence initiatives as he has been serving as coexistence and research coordinator at Tanzanian Elephant Foundation (TEF), contributing to evidence-based conservation efforts across Tanzania.

Sarah Mshanga is a Master’s student in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Dar es Salaam, specializing in amphibian ecology and conservation. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from Sokoine University of Agriculture and has experience in biodiversity conservation, ecological research, and community engagement. Her work has involved field surveys and monitoring of amphibians and reptiles, including threatened species in the Eastern Arc Mountains. Sarah’s research interests focus on amphibian ecology, biodiversity conservation, and understanding how environmental change influences species distribution and ecological patterns in Tanzania. In this project, she contributes to the examination, documentation, and analysis of amphibian specimens in museum wet collections, supporting efforts to improve biodiversity knowledge and conservation planning. She is particularly interested in Tanzania’s amphibian diversity and the application of scientific research to support evidence-based conservation and sustainable wildlife management.

Abasi Juma Ramadhani is a young wildlife scientist and emerging conservation researcher with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science and Conservation from the University of Dar es Salaam. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Wildlife Ecology at the University of Dar es Salaam, supported through the Hazina Project scholarship Programme. Under the Hazina Project, his academic and research interests focus particularly on birds, with an emphasis on avian ecology, biodiversity, distribution, and conservation. He has practical experience in bird surveys, species identification, mist-netting, bird ringing, biological specimen handling, ecological data collection, and scientific reporting. His undergraduate research investigated the seasonal dietary composition of the Spotted Eagle-owl (Bubo africanus) in the West Usambara Mountains Tanzania. He has also received training in biodiversity inventory and monitoring at Amani Nature Forest Reserve and gained field experience in several protected areas across Tanzania.

He is a zoologist and early-career researcher who holds a B.Sc. in Applied Zoology from the University of Dar es Salaam, where he is currently pursuing an M.Sc. in Zoology. His research focuses on mammals, particularly small mammals, with an emphasis on integrating museum wet collections and field surveys to improve biodiversity documentation and conservation planning in Tanzania. He is especially interested in Tanzania’s rich but under-documented diversity of rodents, shrews, sengis and bats. In this project, he contributes to specimen auditing and collection, taxonomic identification, wet collection management and biodiversity data analysis. Through this work, he aims to strengthen scientific collections, support conservation initiatives and improve knowledge of Tanzania’s biodiversity for future research and environmental management.