Entry #13: Bears, and Butterflies, and Birds, Oh My! with Madalina Marian

Originally from Sighisoara, Madalina Marian is a proud advocate
of Transylvanian heritage, nature, and culture. She grew up
foraging in the hilltop forests, keeping an eye out for bears and
chasing butterflies in Transylvania's wildflower meadows, which
inspired her passion for biology. She went on to study biology in
university and during that time she also worked three summers
with Opwall teams as a guide, translator, and survey leader,
becoming familiar with the unique ecology of her local area. Upon
graduating, Madalina knew she wanted to show visitors the
wildlife Transylvania had to offer and founded Angofa Wildlife
Tours in partnership with Friends of Wallacea, Opwall's tourism
arm. Based at the beautifully restored Angofa Wildlife Centre,
Madalina leads tours to view bears, birds, and other wildlife, as
well as hosting dinners and lectures that support conservation
efforts in Transylvania. In this episode, we discuss what makes
Transylvania so special, and why she thinks people should come
visit and learn from Romanian conservation to protect wildlife in
harmony with human livelihoods.