Today we’d like to introduce you to Christian Cave.
Hi Christian, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
From a very young age, I was enthralled by all sorts of wildlife. My love for wildlife began right in my backyard, where I’d spend hours searching for all sorts of insects, reptiles, and any other creatures I could find. Around the age of 5, I saw an episode of Steve Irwin’s “Crocodile Hunter” series and from then on I was absolutely hooked and dedicated a lot of time to exploring outside and reading books about wildlife. Steve Irwin was a larger-than-life hero to me, he presented some of the most exciting, dangerous, and endearing wildlife from all around the world with unmatched energy and passion. He was a huge influence on me as a child, I wanted to become someone who could teach and educate others about wildlife as he did. I earned the name “Bug Man” in school coming up, as I was the kid who could identify and relocate any insect that was scaring my peers.
The older I became, the more I got invested in various kinds of wildlife. This passion followed me all the way up into my senior year of High School when I decided to start an Instagram page called “Caveman Wildlife”. The purpose of Caveman Wildlife is to educate and inspire curiosity in people about the wildlife not only around the world but also in their own backyards. Since then Caveman Wildlife has gained over 450K+ followers across multiple social media platforms. I have been really blessed to be able to share what I’m passionate about, wildlife education and conservation, with such a large growing audience! I currently am a part-time student at Kennesaw State University studying Environmental Science, where I hope a degree will allow me to gain more knowledge, resources, and overall credibility as a wildlife educator.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s been a very interesting road with its own unique set of challenges. Trying to pursue higher education while managing a growing social media following has proven to be a lot more difficult than I could fully grasp at the time when I started. The amount of scientific material I am required to learn and study for school often takes up copious amounts of time during the week. On top of that, my audience wants to see more wildlife and wilderness areas which takes time, planning, and money that a part-time college student is not able to easily provide. Throw in working a part-time job to be able to afford all of the above can make you realize how much time can get away from you. I have found a decent balance between these two worlds and even have started to bridge the gap between them, as KSU has discovered my social media and worked with me to produce some content. Another struggle of mine while trying to grow Caveman Wildlife was simply learning to get used to being wrong a lot along the way. I am very much still learning myself while I continue to teach others. Along the way, I have made mistakes and have been corrected by professionals in my field, as well as just by the “angry mobs” that social media can bring. While it can be hard to sometimes decipher “hate” from constructive critiques, I try to take all criticisms I receive as a chance to be better.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I create wildlife education and conservation content on my social media platform “Caveman Wildlife”. I specialize in making educational videos about various forms of wildlife that can often be found in people’s very own backyards. I am most proud of the impact I have been making in helping to alleviate people’s fear of animals that have an infamous reputation such as snakes, spiders, snapping turtles, etc. I have received so many comments and messages about how my videos have helped people get closer to overcoming their fear of all kinds of wildlife that I present to them. This in turn helps with the conservation of many animals that people often overlook due to their fear of them. I believe what sets me apart from others is likely found in my ability to connect with audiences in a very genuine and enthusiastic manner that helps make the animals I present easier to connect with and build empathy for.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The quality or characteristic I believe has been most important to my success is humility. I try to keep myself in a very grounded and down-to-earth headspace, as being arrogant or cocky has no room when you’re dealing with wild animals. The minute you get full of yourself and feel too comfortable with wildlife is when you can make some serious mistakes. I also find it incredibly important to be humble enough to know that I am still learning and even if there are times when I feel as though I know enough, there’s so much more I do not know and need to learn. A strong sense of humility has helped me excel in many ways over the past few years.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cavemanwildlife/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristianCavem
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmf7pVsd0GdTFxFfNZT9qrg
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@caveman_wildlife
Image Credits
Daniel Ibasa, Tracy Karplus, Henry Wing, Bobby Hardin Jr., Conner Head
