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Moreangels Mbizah represents Oxford at its best

Moreangels Mbizah represents Oxford at its best – finding, and nurturing, talent from wherever it may come, writes David Macdonald in celebration at the new National Geographic film about WildCRU’s Moreangels.

In her case, that talent was found in Zimbabwe and, fired by relentless dedication and the inspiration of nature, it propelled her from rural roots to the spires which were for her indeed a dream come true. Moreangels arrived in Oxford to study at WildCRU’s Recanti-Kaplan Centre Postgraduate Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation Practice, whose alumni are universally known as WildCRU Panthers, and are also universally respected for their drive and accomplishments (there are now close to 100 WildCRU Panthers exerting influence in every nook and cranny of the world’s wildernesses). Moreangels secured a Distinction as a Panther, and soon launched into doctoral studies of lions in Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, supported by philanthropic donations, latterly sustained by donations to WildCRU’s Cecil appeal. This summer Moreangels secured her doctorate, much garlanded by the examiners’ praise, in equal measure, for her scholarship and her personal journey. Now, some of the milestones on that journey are inspirationally portrayed in National Geographic’s short film:

Moreangels has enriched our University and our profession, and all at the WildCRU have been enriched by knowing her.

Moreangels and her field team, taken by Gabby Salazar

Moreangels, taken by Gabby Salazar