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    Photo Sarah Chapman

    June 04, 2015

    Living a Dream

    Sarah Chapman '13 doesn't believe in wasting a single minute - especially when it comes to fulfilling her dreams. Just days after her commencement, the environmental studies major was on a plane bound for Bela Bela, South Africa, where she is now working on an animal preserve. It is home to numerous predators native to South Africa, including leopards, lions and caracals. Among her recent assignments is helping to raise a 1-month-old lion cub and a 3-month-old leopard cub.

    In short, she is living the life she has imagined since she was a child.

    Chapman says that her time at Le Moyne prepared her for this work by teaching her to persevere and to apply what she was taught to the tasks assigned to her. For instance, as the preserve continues to expand, she is helping to develop volunteer opportunities for people from around the world so they can learn about its programs and work what Chapman calls 'these amazing creatures."

    "I am living my dream," she says. "I only hope to pass it on to all who visit."

    Since arriving at the preserve, Chapman has found that there is no such thing as a "typical day." A recent afternoon found her assisting with the relocation of eight giraffes. However, much of her time is spent caring for big cats - feeding, monitoring and interacting with them.

    "The most rewarding part of the job is being able to raise these amazing predators by hand and watch them grow and develop," she says. "In turn, it's also the biggest challenge. You must be mindful of behaviors at all times and keep the best interests of the cubs first. It's much like having children; it's all consuming."
    Category: Alumni in Action