BigWaveDev, Author at Oak Meadow Ranch

From Texas to the Free State: Learning From the World’s Cheetah Experts

February 4, 2026 by BigWaveDev

Cheetahs are one of the most threatened big cats on the planet. Fewer than 7,000 remain in the wild, and their populations continue to decline due to habitat loss, human conflict, illegal trade, and genetic bottlenecks. I knew that if Oak Meadow Ranch was going to one day support cheetah conservation in a meaningful way, I needed to understand them, truly understand them, from the ground up.

Elephants Alive, Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit, & Free State Cheetah Conservation Program in Africa

February 12, 2026October 22, 2025 by BigWaveDev

Kristin, a woman, standing next to an elephant while in an african lanscape

In January 2023, I joined Dr. Michelle Henley and her team at Elephants Alive, a South Africa based organization pioneering science-driven conservation to protect elephants and promote coexistence between people and wildlife. Their mission is rooted in long-term ecological research tracking elephants across southern Africa using satellite collars, photographic ID databases, and behavioral studies to … Read more