Mammologist speaks on profession
NATURAL History Museum curator of mammals Tsitsi Sithandiwe Theone (29) says she is not scared to manage one of the world’s finest and intact, almost a century old collection of mammals.
Theone is excited to be making inroads in the previously male-dominated field of mammalogy. Mammals are identified by their wide range of characteristics. They are warm blooded animals with vertebrae, most of them give birth to live young ones, and mostly are big animals with four legs, serve for the whales of the seas.
In interview with Sunday Life, Theone who has a natural love for one of the Big Five, the elephant, said the big mammal cannot be exhausted in knowing about its behavioural patterns.
“I like the elephant despite the fact that I once majored on hyenas. The elephant has a lot of stories and perceptions held by people across the world and it is these I am working to demystify and help to increase knowledge on the animal.
“Elephants eat around 200kg of food and 200 litres of water per day and this leaves a lot to be desired on the general management of elephants in the country and hence that’s why I am so interested in demystifying some myths surrounding this animal,” she said.
The mammalogy section is said to have been developed around 1907 when the first curator was employed.
“The mammals are the most known than others animal species, people like big things and we priorities on that, but our focus will be based on the dynamics development, demographic, evolution and history so as to help ecologist in the ultimate protection of these mammals,” she said.
She said their world’s elephant population is around 650 000 and the bulk of these animals are found in southern Africa.
She added that she is enthusiastic about the fact Zimbabwe is the pioneer and pacesetter in the management of wild life in general and in particular elephants involving other issues of their protection. However, her biggest concern is the sustainable development strategies which are being compromised.
“My job is to manage the repository of mammalogy species, document, collect, research, produce catalogues and preserve,” she said.
On the academic side she helps various students locally and abroad who want various information on the species.
She also said that Natural History Museum through its mammalogy department preservers heritage.