#542 - Meet Gabby Sykora

Meet Gabby Sikora - she's 17, dreams of being a wildlife vet, and accidentally built one of Southern Africa's biggest youth conservation networks. What started as a 13-year-old with a point-and-shoot camera and three friends on Instagram has turned into YWPSA - 800+ young photographers across Southern Africa using their cameras to protect what they love.

Gabby breaks down how she went from watching safari streams as a kid to partnering with Canon and working alongside organizations like BirdLife South Africa. She talks about why youth voices matter in conservation, how photography can actually help save wildlife (not just capture pretty shots), and what happens when you give teenagers real responsibility.

If you've ever wondered whether one person can actually make a difference, or if you're curious about the next generation stepping up for nature - this one's for you. Plus, Gabby's got some strong opinions about ethical wildlife photography that might surprise you.

This is Gabby's debut on Wild Eye, but definitely not her last - stay tuned for more episodes where she'll be taking the host seat and bringing you the stories that matter in conservation.

Visit the YWPSA website here: https://www.ywpofsa.co.za/