Dr. Justine Shanti Alexander, Snow Leopard Conservationist Asia and France, La Grande Boissière, 2006

Dr. Justine Shanti Alexander

La Grande Boissière, 2006

Snow Leopard Conservationist 
Asia and France

Find out more about me:

• Snow Leopard Network
• Twitter: @snowleopardhope and @snowleopardent

Currently, I hold the position of Country Director (Mongolia) for the Wildlife Conservation Society, and previously I worked for seven and a half years as a Senior Conservation Scientist for the Snow Leopard Trust and served as the Executive Director for the Snow Leopard Network. For over a decade, I have been dedicated to snow leopard conservation, residing in China, Mongolia, and various parts of Asia. Now, I split my time equally between Asia and the French Alps in France. My goal is to promote the coexistence of snow leopards across High Asia for generations to come. 

One of my favourite Ecolint memories is when a group of friends and I started an Ecology club in 2003. Together, we would stand in front of the cafeteria as statues with white sheets. Whenever a fellow student recycled, we would move and do a dance. Our aim was to encourage recycling and explore local ways to treat our Earth better. It marked the beginning of my journey as a conservationist.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program prepared me for the next steps in my academic journey. Undergraduate university became much easier as I had already faced the challenges of some of the most demanding work during the IB exams. Moreover, Ecolint provided me with the opportunity to explore different passions. In my final two years, I pursued IB Art Higher, allowing me to combine my love for art and science.

If given the opportunity for a redo, I would enjoy the journey more. While studying the theory is essential, it's equally important to engage in collaborative activities locally and learn through action and engagement.

My words of wisdom for Ecolint students: conservation is about collaborations. Consider snow leopards, found across 12 countries in High Asia, often in border regions. Protecting this magnificent species depends on governments, local communities, conservationists, and people of diverse cultures, religions, and nations coming together.

What legacy do you want to leave? A world where my grandchildren can know snow leopards roaming the high mountains of Asia, and where the Eurasian lynx has reclaimed the Alps of France and Europe.