I am a field conservationist, biologist, adventurer, documentary filmmaker, and activist born in Třinec, Silesia (1988). In 2012, after my first experiences traveling in Africa, I initiated the founding of Save-Elephants, and since then I have spent most of my time doing field and organizational work, mainly in Congo, Cameroon, and Chad. I studied ecological and evolutionary biology at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague (2009-2012), but I have not (yet) continued my academic career so that I can be active in direct nature conservation in the long term. In the first phase, I explored Central Africa as part of a solo cycling and kayaking expedition through seven countries, during which I spent a year and a quarter mapping the situation of elephants and their poaching and planning Save-Elephants' further involvement in pilot projects for wildlife conservation. My film "Here Are the Elephants" tells the story of this 6,000 km journey. In the following years, in addition to documenting and investigating the illegal ivory trade, I worked mainly in Congo with many conservation and government organizations: African Parks, LAGA and PALF (EAGLE Network), The Aspinall Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Jane Goodall Institute, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and the ministries of environment in Chad and Congo. Between 2014 and 2019, my work focused on establishing and developing detection dog units to detect ivory and other contraband in Congo. In addition to Save-Elephants activities, I am also involved in the development of organic farming (breeding the only camels in Congo and other promising innovations) to ensure sustainable livelihoods for local people. I also participate in documentary, research, and ecotourism projects in the region.
When I am not in Africa, I work on conservation projects in the Czech Republic, particularly with the Třesina association, helping to maintain the biological diversity of endangered ecosystems in our countryside through active management and domestic animal grazing. I am also active in schools and educational events for the public, and I spread awareness about African and domestic nature conservation through various media. I also film programs for Czechia Television for the shows Nedej se and Objektiv. My activities, as well as our entire association, are supported by the Liberec Zoo, where I work part-time on field activities. I am also part of the team at the Center for Environmental Forensic Sciences at Charles University.
My grandparents and parents introduced me to nature during my idyllic childhood in the Beskydy Mountains and during our joint discovery trips around Europe. Later, I began to travel further afield, either alone or with friends, to less common destinations (Morocco, Turkey, Iran, Ukraine, Kamchatka), and after graduating from high school in Třinec, I spent a year working, traveling, and volunteering (Cochrane Ecological Institute) in Canada. I have the mindset and ideals of an "Idiot" and I am addicted to beauty – I need to see it, create it, and protect it. I feel best in the wilderness or at least within reach of a piece of nature. I admire mountains, volcanoes, deserts, the sea, and forests, and I enjoy photography and filming. I travel by kayak, bicycle, and horseback, and I am interested in entomology, beekeeping, and animal husbandry. Even on the very edge of civilization, however, my passion for culture never leaves me – I write poetry and am a lover of music, dance, theater, and literature. I enjoy learning foreign languages. In recent years, I have also been personally involved in supporting soldiers, civilians, and conservationists in Ukraine's defense. My totem animals are the raven, wolf/dog, bear, camel, and, unsurprisingly, the elephant.
