Dr Laura
Veterinarian & Conservation Advocate
Hi, I’m Laura !
I’m Belgian by birth, but the world has always felt like my home. For over 20 years, I’ve been a veterinarian, dedicating my life to the care and healing of animals. But beyond the stethoscope, my heart beats for the wild — whether it’s diving into the deep blue or traversing landscapes in search of stories that need telling. This blog is a space where I share my experiences, insights, and the lessons I’ve learned along the way. It’s a space where I invite you to join me in exploring, learning, and advocating for the world we share.
Behind every post, every idea, and every word I share is a personal story, filled with experiences, challenges, and moments that have shaped who I am today. So if you’re curious to know more about who I really am, please keep reading…
1. A Childhood Among Animals and Instincts
I was born a mixed-race child to a father I barely knew. Growing up in a predominantly white environment, I never questioned it — it was simply my norm. But as I got older, the world made sure I felt different. Like a little zebra, neither fully black nor fully white, but striped — something in between. That sense of in-between-ness shaped me. It made me curious, always searching for where I truly belonged. But there was one place where I never had to question myself: nature. Surrounded by animals — cats, dogs, chickens, sheep, ducks — I felt whole. I was four years old when someone first asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, and without hesitation, I answered: “A nature defender!” I didn’t fully understand what that meant, only that the awe I felt for the natural world was something I had to protect.
2. From Stables to Scrubs : The Start of My Vet Journey
For the next 15 years, my world revolved around horses — riding them, caring for them, living and breathing that environment. So when the time came to choose a career path, it seemed obvious. I was good at science, and in Belgium, conservation studies weren’t really a thing. Even biology — at least the way it was portrayed — didn’t seem particularly sexy. Veterinary school felt like the best fit. I didn’t question it. I loved learning. I was endlessly curious about the world around me. And above all, I loved animals.
One of the greatest privileges I’ve had as a vet has been the freedom to travel. Whether working, volunteering, or taking extended breaks as a locum, this career has allowed me to explore the world in a way few others can. My curiosity has led me to some of the most breathtaking places — witnessing wildlife on land and, more recently, beneath the ocean’s surface.
3. Back to Africa : A Path of Heritage and Purpose
2016 changed everything when I experienced Africa like never before. My journey began in Kenya, where, surrounded by its rich wildlife, I found myself living the Lion King dream — but it was more than just a childhood fantasy. Something deep within me stirred. It was primal, like a roar in my gut — something inside me had awoken.
From Kenya, my travels led me to Rwanda — the land of half my roots. It’s a place that carries both beauty and history, forever marked by the horrors of genocide. Yet, stepping onto its soil, I felt a powerful connection to the land. The misty mountains, the taste of tropical fruits, and the presence of the gorillas resonated deeply within me.
After a brief but unforgettable encounter with those magnificent apes, I met the Gorilla Doctors — a conservation charity dedicated to ensuring the health of the gorillas who receive daily visits. I’ll always remember the fascination, the envy, and that aha moment when I realised — this was it. Reality was calling me back to the dream I once had as a child. When I returned home, I knew I couldn’t ignore it. I enrolled in the Conservation Medicine Master’s programme at the University of Edinburgh, determined to bridge my veterinary background with my passion for protecting wildlife.
4. The Ocean’s Call : My Mission Beneath the Surface
I’d never felt at ease in open water. But through my travels, curiosity pushed me to wonder what creatures I was missing by staying at the surface. The first time I submerged, everything shifted. It wasn’t just a new environment — it was an entirely different experience. The ocean, with its vastness and mystery, is both captivating and vulnerable — mainly because it is so elusive to us, living on land. The fragility of these ecosystems becomes all too real when you dive; you are no longer an observer, you become one with the underwater world.
Every time, diving is a spiritual experience, a kind of pilgrimage. Sometimes it’s a gentle, amniotic drift; other times, it’s raw and humbling. But often, it’s heart breaking. Witnessing the damage — bleached coral reefs, disrupted species, plastic-choked waters — is devastating.
The more I see, the more in awe I am — and the more fragile it all feels.
5. From Becoming to Belonging : The Life I Now Lead
My background has given me a front-row seat to the pressures nature faces, the misunderstandings surrounding certain species, and the heartbreaking reality of how even well-intentioned people can be misled into supporting harmful practices. Too often, activities disguised as conservation or ethical tourism end up fuelling industries that exploit wildlife. Being a vet has also helped me understand complex problems more clearly, and taught me how to share that knowledge in a way that makes sense to others. In learning to heal, I’ve also learned to speak for those who can’t, and to make the unseen seen. It’s how I am finding my place, not just beside the wild, but within the rhythm of its protection.
This is why I do what I do: I am a nature defender, an animal advocate, a vet, a diver — a little zebra exploring, travelling and sharing the world.