In this episode, Dr. Chris Jenkins sits down with Dr. Jelka Crnobrnja-Isailović, a snake biologist from Serbia, to share her extraordinary journey. Jelka recounts her early fascination with amphibians and reptiles, research on newts and lizards, and a strong desire for working with snakes. Against the backdrop of her PhD studies, Jelka faced the upheaval of the Yugoslav Wars, navigating the challenges of pursuing science in a nation fractured into new borders. Despite these hardships, she built an inspiring career as a researcher and professor in Serbia, dedicating her work to the conservation and study of vipers in the Balkans.

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