Meet the team!

Love gained international exposure to wildlife medicine before graduating in Malawi, which strengthened her passion for conservation. She went on to become Malawi’s first female veterinarian at Lilongwe Wildlife Trust and built broad experience across clinical practice, research, and academia. After moving to Liberia in 2023 to work with chimpanzees, she joined our team in late 2025, bringing strong expertise in wildlife medicine, research, education, and animal care.

Originally from Germany, Finn Tenhünfeld holds a M.Sc. in Conservation Management, with a multidisciplinary academic foundation in Applied Biology, Biomedicine, and Ecology established across multiple European institutions. His research background includes investigating indigenous land use in the Amazon and human-wildlife conflicts in Tanzania. With a specialized focus on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental stability, he serves as the Director of Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary, integrating global scientific research with the practical execution of wildlife rehabilitation and biodiversity conservation.

Rudolph and Lisa Antoune launched the Sanctuary in 2018, building on years of personal animal rescue work. As the Founders and Permanent Patrons, they serve as the organization's strategic and moral guardian in a permanent advisory role. Together, they leverage their hospitality expertise to foster wildlife awareness among tourists, ensuring the protection of Liberia’s biodiversity.

After a decade as a great ape zookeeper in Belgium, Julie moved to Liberia in 2016 to help establish the Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary. She served as its Director from 2017 to 2021, transforming it into a vital haven for victims of the illegal wildlife trade. Currently, she is the Country Director for the Tikki Hywood Foundation in Cameroon, focusing exclusively on pangolin rescue, rehabilitation, and release.

Bonnie Dighero-Kemp is a One Health researcher who has worked in Liberia for over a decade. She is a DVM/PhD candidate at Oregon State University, integrating veterinary medicine, disease ecology, and wildlife conservation to advance the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. Her work focuses on wildlife-associated pathogens and spillover risk while strengthening research infrastructure and supporting local training and education in Liberia.

Raised in the Belgian countryside, Steven studied veterinary medicine at Ghent University before specializing in wild animal health in London. Global experience in zoos and research projects shaped his pragmatic approach to conservation. He now applies his expertise as the World Parrot Trust’s rescue coordinator for Africa.