Francisca Astorga
Francisca Astorga is a veterinarian and naturalist from Chile. Based on a love for animals, she pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science and then graduated from Vet School. Now, with M.Sc. and a Ph.D. in Conservation Medicine, Francisca has participated for several years in different projects concerning wild animals’ rehabilitation, management, research, and conservation. Since 2004, she has contributed to the Cascada de las Animas Wild Animal Refuge, located in central Chile, where she has supported mainly veterinary activities, management and fundraising. Her research experience, for which she received a CAF grant, has focused on the impact of free-ranging dogs on wildlife, particularly on carnivores, including spatial segregation, competition, and potential infectious disease transmission.