KRISTY RAMNARINE
Kristy.ramnarine@cnc3.co.tt
Hukaymah Ali is the woman you can call when you want to remove an anaconda from your property. The passionate wildlife conservationist’s goal is to protect nature and all wildlife, and she wants to educate and encourage the public about respecting some of the most misunderstood creatures on the planet–reptiles and amphibians.
“My day is very spontaneous, sometimes I will get calls to do a tour, and sometimes we get calls to remove a snake from someone’s house,” she said.
“Recently, we got a case to remove a nine-foot anaconda that was eating someone’s ducks. In order to save the snakes and save the ducks, we relocated it (snake) to a safer area.
“We do have anacondas in Trinidad. You will find them in Caroni Swamp and Nariva Swamp as well. They live close to the swamp.”
Ali, who got her Biology degree from the University of the Southern Caribbean, had a passion for animals from a very young age.
“I always had an interest in animals and I used to look at Steve Irwin on television,” she said.
“That sparked something in me and I decided I wanted a career in something to do with wildlife. At first, I said maybe I should be a vet, but when I got some experience I decided to volunteer at a wildlife centre.”
Ali started working at the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation.
She later founded an organisation called West Indian Herping.
“West Indian Herping is an organisation dedicated to the long-term preservation of reptiles and amphibians of the West Indies through education, eco-tourism, photography and research,” she said.
“We focus on reptiles and amphibians, things that people do not really like.
“We educate, we do tours, we do research, and we try to get people out there and open to these animals that they wouldn’t typically like. We try to open their hearts to snakes that you would see often but don’t know much about.”
Ali, who may be considered an animal whisperer, enjoys working with the slithering animals.
“I don’t force people to hold snakes but I explain to them how a snake moves,” she said.
“I answer any questions or myths about snakes. Snakes do bite, but they bite you if they are scared. What they do is defend themselves and not attack people. Once you don’t do them anything, they won’t do you anything.”
As a Muslim, Ali is fasting from food and drink, from sunrise to sunset, during the month of Ramadan.
“I’m accustomed to fasting because I have been doing it from a very young age,” she said.
“I work as usual, go on hikes as usual. If I am caught in the forest when it is time to break fast I would do it there.”
Ali, who can be found on TikTok as the Animal Girl, continues to document her adventures with wildlife.