Melanie graduated as a veterinarian from the University of Leipzig, Germany, where she also completed her doctoral studies in veterinary pharmacology. She was fortunate to move to southern Chile, a paradise of forests, rivers, lakes, and wetlands teeming with life. It was here that she began monitoring the elusive güiña and immersed herself in the world of wild cat conservation.
It did not take her long to recognize the many threats facing this small felid – and the need to listen, communicate, and collaborate with local communities if we are to secure a future for our native wildlife. Since March 2023, she has served as a director and co-founder of Fundación Con Garra, a Chilean NGO dedicated to mitigating the threats faced by all wild cat species inhabiting the country. In this role, she has led and implemented numerous projects focused on reducing retaliatory killing and wildlife-vehicle collisions, promoting responsible pet ownership, and advancing environmental education.