When Susan Downes bought an old farmhouse in York, Western Australia, she had imagined a quiet life in the countryside, with a small garden to look after. Instead, she found herself the owner of a 200-hectare property, including a hill where old native trees had survived more than a century of grazing but much of the vegetation beneath them had disappeared.

Nearly two decades later, the 76-year-old retired general practitioner has turned a substantial part of the land into a conservation project. About 120 hectares have been restored, around 45,000 native seedlings have been planted, and 45 plant species have returned naturally from seeds already present in the soil. As reported by The Guardian, Downes is now working to ensure that the work continues long after she is gone.

Downes was in her 60s, widowed and with her children grown up, when she began looking for a home in the countryside. The farmhouse in York appealed to her, but the size of the property initially seemed impractical. A second visit changed her mind. At the back of the farm, she discovered Mount Mackie, a 295-metre hill where ancient York gums and wandoos had survived about 150 years of grazing. Much of the understorey had vanished, leaving the old trees as some of the most visible remnants of the original landscape.

“I felt a great connection to the land,” Downes told The Guardian.

She decided to buy the property and began looking for ways to restore it. Her first step was to obtain a small local grant to control foxes and feral cats. She then secured funding for 24,000 trees over three years, giving her the means to begin planting on a larger scale. Downes had started her professional career as a botanist, but restoring a large property required more than an interest in plants.

The work involved managing invasive animals, removing weeds, planting seedlings and organising the practical details of a long-term conservation effort. Today, the restoration covers 120 hectares of her working farm. The return of 45 plant species through the soil's natural seed bank has also contributed to the recovery of the landscape.

For Downes, restoring the land is only part of the task. She also wants to ensure that the area cannot be cleared again in the future. She is working to place the restored land under a conservation covenant, a legal arrangement that can protect land from certain forms of development or clearing. The project is supported by Friends of Mt Mackie, a local volunteer group with a core team of about eight people and more than 80 others who take part in organised planting and seed-collection days. Downes has also been thinking about who will look after the property in the future.

The deaths and dementia diagnoses of friends have made her more conscious of how uncertain the time available to complete a long-term project can be.

She told The Guardian that she wants the arrangements for the land's future responsibility to be firmly established. Her hope is that her children and grandchildren will be inspired by the work, while the wider community will continue to have access to the place. The project also has a cultural dimension.

Ballardong women from York visit Mount Mackie several times a year for cultural healing sessions. Downes is working with Ballardong elders to find an Aboriginal name for the hill. Planning is also under way for a reconciliation event in 2030, marking 200 years since European arrival in the region.

Addressing legal loopholes, setting clear deadlines for the protection of endangered species, and ensuring timely decisions are essential. Greater transparency in decision-making and stronger wildlife protection laws are important steps toward safeguarding the future of endangered species.

Hi everyone!

I'm from India, and I'll be starting my undergraduate studies next year. I'm planning to pursue a bachelor's degree in Zoology at a reputable university in India, but my long-term goal is to build a career in wildlife biology, conservation, or a related field internationally.

I'm particularly interested in careers that involve hands-on work with wildlife, fieldwork, travelling to forests and national parks, participating in conservation projects, and contributing to animal research and protection. I'd love to work in wildlife-rich regions such as Africa, Australia, or other parts of the world where these opportunities are available.

I'm still exploring the different career paths within this field, so I'd really appreciate advice from people who work in wildlife biology, conservation, ecology, or related professions.

Here are some things I'd love to understand:

1. Which wildlife careers would you recommend?

I'm interested in roles such as wildlife biologist, conservationist, field researcher, wildlife ecologist, animal behaviourist, and conservation project officer. I'm also open to lesser-known careers that involve practical fieldwork or working directly with wildlife.

Which roles would you recommend exploring, particularly for someone who wants a combination of meaningful work, hands-on experience, good earning potential, and long-term career stability?

1. What is the best educational pathway for an international career?

Since I'll be beginning my bachelor's degree in India next year, would pursuing Zoology be a good starting point? Or would a degree in Ecology, Environmental Science, or another related subject offer better opportunities internationally?

Would it be better to complete my bachelor's degree in India and then pursue a master's degree abroad, or are there other pathways I should consider?

1. How can I pursue postgraduate studies abroad with scholarships or full funding?

This is one of my biggest concerns because studying internationally can be expensive, and I would prefer not to depend entirely on my family's finances.

Which countries and universities offer good programmes in wildlife biology, conservation, ecology, or related fields? Are there scholarships, fully funded master's programmes, government scholarships, or research opportunities available to international students from India?

I'd particularly appreciate advice on how to prepare for these opportunities during my undergraduate years, including academic requirements, grades, internships, research experience, and English-language tests, if applicable.

1. How realistic is it to find wildlife-related employment abroad after studying in India?

Would an Indian bachelor's degree followed by an international master's degree be a viable route into the wildlife sector overseas?

How difficult is it for international applicants to secure jobs, work permits, or long-term employment in countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Australia, Canada, the UK, or elsewhere?

I'd also love to know whether international conservation organisations, wildlife research institutes, sanctuaries, or conservation projects recruit people from abroad.

1. Which countries offer the best opportunities for wildlife careers?

I'm interested in countries with significant wildlife populations and opportunities for fieldwork, conservation research, animal monitoring, habitat protection, and wildlife rehabilitation.

Which countries would you recommend considering, taking into account career opportunities, salaries, job stability, funding for further education, and the possibility of remaining employed there after graduation?

1. What are the actual salary prospects and working conditions?

I'd like to understand what wildlife professionals realistically earn at the beginning of their careers and how their salaries and opportunities for progression change with experience.

Are there particular specialisations or career paths that offer better financial stability without sacrificing the opportunity to work in the field?

1. What should I do during my bachelor's degree to improve my chances?

Since I have a few years before applying for postgraduate programmes or international jobs, what should I focus on from the beginning?

Would internships, volunteering, field surveys, research projects, GIS, remote sensing, statistics, or data analysis be particularly valuable? Are there any skills or experiences you wish you'd developed earlier?

I'd especially appreciate advice from people who have studied or worked internationally in wildlife biology, conservation, ecology, or related fields, particularly those who moved abroad from another country.

I'm passionate about wildlife and want to build a career that allows me to contribute to its protection while also achieving financial independence. I'm open to different countries and specialisations, and I'd rather plan my educational path carefully than commit to a route without understanding its opportunities and limitations.

Thank you so much for any advice or personal experiences you can share!