Tiffany Soechting • Executive Director
Tiffany started her career at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch in 1985, less than a year after their opening. During that over 30 year span of time, she has been an active part of their giraffe program. She has witnessed first hand the growth spawned from the founding sire and dam into a program with two established breeding herds. that have produced over 35 offspring and now the 4th generation to live and thrive in their safe home away from home. Tiffany is the head caretaker of giraffe babies that have required extra nurturing and hand rearing. Her 'biggest baby', Buddy, was born in 2013. He is one of the 9th known living giraffe twins born in the last 200 years. Buddy was the spark of inspiration and the first step of a journey that lead to the formation of this organization. Her career and personal life revolve around her family and their collective interest in raising and caring for animals. She has developed the educational programs and materials for Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, as well as the marketing and public relations programs. That 30 years of knowledge and experience is what she is bringing to help Save The Giraffes.
Jason Pootoolal • President
Jason Pootoolal is a zoologist and conservationist from Ontario, Canada. He has worked in the management and care of animals for over 20 years and has been an active participant in conservation-focused research for over a decade. Although he has worked with nearly every animal species, he found his true passion is working with ungulates.
When he first started working with giraffe in the early 2000s, their rapidly declining numbers in the wild were ignored and within the zoological world, giraffes were often misunderstood as unintelligent and fearful. Acknowledging what so many of us see in giraffe, a truly amazing and inspiring species. Jason has dedicated his career to advancing their care in human partnership and protecting wild giraffes and the ecosystem they share with so many unique people, plants and animals.
Having collaborated with some of the best and most dedicated giraffe professionals across 5 continents, he has extended our knowledge of giraffe survival and reproduction, as well as advanced care for giraffes living under human stewardship. Jason has assisted in the pioneering of giraffe reproduction for use in proper captive management as well as wild genetic conservation. He has worked towards developing the best practices of caring for the most vulnerable captive giraffes: compromised neonates and the geriatric.
Catherine Carter Land is a Texan with a huge passion for creativity and adventure. She grew up raising raccoons, whitetail deer, foxes, squirrels, coyotes… basically any animal that her dad would bring home from the field that was in need of help before being released back into the wild. Catherine received her degree in Film and Digital Media from Baylor University in 2013 and began her career in news reporting before moving on to become producer of NatGeoWILD’s Walking With Giraffes. It was during the production of this film that she met Buddy, the twin giraffe born at Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. It was their friendship that encouraged her to set out on a journey to help this magnificent species. She is a member of the Coastal Conservation Association, New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, Safari Club International and the Wild Sheep Foundation. Catherine’s family taught her the importance and value of protecting and enjoying the great outdoors at a very young age, instilling a deep love and appreciation for wildlife and conservation. She has made it her goal to share that same love and appreciation with people around the world for the betterment of our environment.
Catherine Carter Land • Vice President
Stephen Momberg • Secretary
Stephen Momberg is an avid and dedicated zoologist and veterinarian. He was born and raised on a small farm in the countryside of South Africa. Exploring, researching and helping animals was an important part of his daily life from an early age. Stephen graduated from the University of the Free State in 2016 with a degree in zoology. The following year, he continued his studies with an Honours in Zoology, focusing on monitoring rhinos before and after dehorning. Stephen’s big dream has always been to become a wildlife veterinarian, and he fulfilled that dream graduated from the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest in Hungary. Stephen currently works as a veterinary Surgeon in a mixed practice in Mid-Wales, UK, where he continues to gain experience and learn more about all types of animals every day. He has a passion for wildlife and is a member of various wildlife conservation groups. Stephen’s first exposure to giraffe research was when he was given the memorable opportunity to join the team of researchers from across the globe on a monumental expedition in 2017. He quickly became fascinated with these magnificent mammals and is proud to be a part of an organization that will have an impact on their wild and captive populations.
Rachel South • Treasurer
Rachel South began her journey in wildlife conservation caring for ungulates at a family-run private conservation ranch in South Texas.
Her passion for ungulates began with building a breeding and management program for a herd of scimitar oryx, and now encompasses the care of 30 exotic animal species. This includes 10 giraffe which sparked her interest and furthered her drive to better understand these remarkable animals. She has worked closely with giraffes for six years and plans to continue her research on giraffes in captivity while working diligently with Save The Giraffes to ensure a thriving future for them in the wild.
Rachel owns and operates an interior design firm in Austin, Texas and when she is not covered in fabric and blueprints, she’s getting her boots dirty in the field with the giraffes and her family of ungulates.
Her mission is to protect, advocate and be a voice for the survival of giraffes in their natural habitat.
