Meet our new Youth Ambassadors!

Mammal Societies YA’s at the Natural History Museum, London.

After the successful launch of our YA program in August 2024, we're thrilled to introduce our newest Youth Ambassadors, who joined the programme in December 2024 at an exclusive backstage tour of the Natural History Museum.

The Youth Ambassador Program is designed to empower the next generation of mammalogists with hands-on experience, educational opportunities, and a platform to advocate for the protection of mammals. This program not only aims to equip these young conservationists with the skills they need but also to ensure that their voices are heard and valued in the conservation community, inspiring others and driving meaningful change. Below, they share a bit about who they are and what inspired them to join this important mission as Youth Ambassadors.

Dylan (Mammal Society Youth Ambassador) 

Dylan:

Hi - I’m Dylan, an A-Level student and a young person fairly well-known in the field of hedgehog conservation! I started a campaign to help hedgehogs survive and thrive at the age of 13, after discovering their dramatic decline within the UK, and have since developed a keen interest in environmental sustainability and conservation, hoping to pursue a career path and further study in this area next year.

I was inspired to become a Youth Ambassador after my sustainability role at school gave me the opportunity to partner with the Mammal Society for advice and support with launching a mammal tracking project across the town, getting hundreds of primary and secondary school pupils involved. It was fantastic to see everyone so engaged with finding out more about the mammals that live in local habitats, and I’d like to continue raising awareness and learning more about our mammal populations during my time as a Youth Ambassador. Encouraging everyone, and young people in particular, to get outside and connect with nature would be the one thing I’d really like to see more of in the world. We’re facing significant but surmountable challenges as a generation with climate change fueling biodiversity loss, and I believe that finding this connection with nature will provide us all with the inspiration and motivation to build a sustainable future.

Favourite mammal: Of course, my favourite mammal would have to be the hedgehog – unique as the UK’s only spiny mammal which has played an important role in urban and rural ecosystems for centuries.

Mel (Mammal Society Youth Ambassador) 

Mel:

I am an A level student in my final year and I hope to study Zoology at university. In my free time, I run a community hedgehog project where we work on engaging and educating people about hedgehogs and the small ways we can support them. I am passionate about zoological science and research and ways we can use this to inform conservation and engage people with the natural world. I am very excited about my role as youth ambassador and can't wait to see where it takes me.

If I could change one thing in the world, it would be to end inequality so that everyone in the world, regardless of background or circumstance, would have equal access to basic human rights, education, healthcare, wealth and opportunities. This would also be particularly important when facing environmental challenges, as poorer communities are often disproportionately affected by issues like climate change and the biodiversity crisis. With equal access to education and resources, conservation would be more unified and the solutions would be effective and fairer.

Favourite mammal. As much as I love hedgehogs, I'd have to say the fox. Nothing can quite beat the feeling of glimpsing a fox as it flashes under a streetlight. Foxes feel uniquely wild so seeing them in urban areas is always exciting. Did you know that foxes are the first animals known to use magnetic fields to hunt and to estimate distance rather than position or direction.

Kosmo (MS Youth Ambassador) 

Kosmo:

I’m currently studying A - Levels in Biology, Chemistry, Geography and Photography with the intent to get a degree in zoology and to eventually work with conservation and rewilding efforts around the world. My hobbies are Wildlife photography and Birdwatching.

I am passionate about conservation and field research and the opportunity to spread the word about current events in nature inspires me to be a youth ambassador. If I could change one thing in the world I would want everyone on the globe to have free access to local green spaces anywhere.

Favourite mammal. The Duck Billed platypus as it is one of very few surviving monotremes and has a variety of fascinating adaptations such as antibacterial milk and venomous spurs.

Kayleigh (MS YA)

Kayleigh:

Currently studying BSc Wildlife Conservation with Zoo Biology at University and spending my free time with the wildlife photography group on campus or playing football and rugby.

Being a Youth Ambassador allows me to be an advocate for positive change in conservation. I believe that educating the younger generation is the key and I look forward to sharing my knowledge with them. In the future, I am hoping to make the most of my role with the mammal society and see a change of attitude from people around the world when it comes to protecting our mammals.

If I could change one thing in the world it would be the lack of urgency and ignorance to global issues as a result of human impacts on wildlife, for example plastic pollution and contributing factors to climate change.

Favourite mammal. I adore all wildlife but marine mammals intrigue me the most!

Interested in what our YA’s get up to, sign up to our Youth Opportunities mailing list to find out more.