Chris Austria
My life is an incredible adventure that has taken me down some very exciting and extraordinary paths. I have been fortunate to be able to follow my passions in life. This has been a challenge, and at times a difficult road, but worth it in unimaginable ways. A life with tigers and lions has been a dream of mine since I was a child. My work with the big cats eventually led me to wildlife conservation in East Africa. Currently, I am working for the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda. In 1998, the sanctuary was founded by Dr. Jane Goodall and a group of founding trustees. This website is an account of my journey.
My passions in life are wildlife conservation, animals, travel, food, wine, cultures, traditions, and learning languages. I worked with tigers and lions for many years in the U.S. This experience inspired within me a deep desire to protect endangered species. Currently, I am working for Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Uganda. During my time here in East Africa, I have seen the importance of community based eco-tourism, and conservation.
Trekking to the Asheton Maryam Monastery in Lalibela Ethiopia was very scenic. The Lasta mountains and craggy escarpments were spectacular to see during this journey. Lalibela is a UNESCO World Heritage sight, famous for the 12th-13th century rock-hewn Ethiopian Orthodox Christian churches.
