Interviews Mid Career October 24, 2019 3 min read

Caring for the Kakapo, New Zealand’s Endangered Parrot

When you’re working alone in the bush the last thing you want to see is the outside toilet door opening, but for Department of Conservation ranger Ricki Mitchell, this was an intrusion of the avian variety. The kakapo. New Zealand’s critically endangered flightless parrot, and a welcome relief for her to say the least! After

marcia.welch@outlook.co.nz' Marcia Welch
Interviews Mid Career October 22, 2019 5 min read

Diving into Conservation, with Sharks!

Since a young age Guido Leurs has been fascinated by wildlife. At first, he was into snakes and reptiles in general, heavily influenced by the late Steve Irwin. Later, his fascination moved to the underwater world and specifically towards sharks. This world inspired him so much that Guido decided to try and get into marine

Nick Huisman
Podcasts Senior Level June 24, 2019 26 min read

Podcast: Chris Thompson | Audley Travel

What do you do if you’ve got a great degree, stacks of quality volunteer and intern experience in nature conservation but then spend over six months applying for jobs without a single interview? Having left university, this is what faced our guest today, Chris Thompson. He decided to try a different approach and one which

Dr Nick Askew
Podcasts Senior Level June 10, 2019 34 min read

Podcast: Nirmal Jivan Shah | Nature Seychelles

In 1968 the global population of a small brown bird called the Seychelles Warbler, according to Nature Seychelles, was down to just 30 individuals. Habitat destruction and predation by introduced species like rats had driven the birds to the very edge of extinction and it was listed as critically endangered. Cycle forwards 50 years to

Dr Nick Askew
Volunteer & Internships Careers Advice January 22, 2019 6 min read

The one that got away | by Alex Brickle

The Iberian Wolf: It can smell and hear its prey from miles away, has a huge territory and, with a top speed of 30mph, can dart across a field in seconds. So to see one you’d have to be at exactly the right spot at the right time. This’ll be easy, we thought to ourselves.

Dr Nick Askew
Volunteer & Internships Careers Advice January 22, 2019 6 min read

Mulling Over Culling | by Asiem Sanyal

Conservation Careers sponsored Wildlife Blogger of the Year 2018, a competition run by our partner Terra Incognita to raise awareness about our planet’s incredible wildlife through the power of storytelling. This captivating story about tracking lions in Namibia won author Asiem Sanyal the title of Judges’ Choice First Runner Up. To the majority of the

Dr Nick Askew
Volunteer & Internships Careers Advice January 22, 2019 6 min read

Crowning the King by Josh Robertson

Conservation Careers sponsored Wildlife Blogger of the Year 2018, a competition run by our partner Terra Incognita to raise awareness about our planet’s incredible wildlife through the power of storytelling. This captivating story about tracking lions in Namibia won author Josh Robertson the title of Readers’ Choice Runner Up. Heavy winds swept across the footsteps

Dr Nick Askew
Animal Welfare Interviews January 22, 2019 6 min read

Michelle Proulx | Wolf Conservation & Welfare

Michelle Proulx is the Director of animal care and educational programmes at W.O.L.F Sanctuary, Colorado, USA. W.O.L.F is an acronym for Wolves Offered Life and Friendship. The wolf conservation charity rescues captive-born wolves and wolf dogs that have previously been kept as pets and provides them with a permanent life long home at the sanctuary’s facility,

Catherine Hunter
Interviews Animal Welfare January 8, 2019 4 min read

Dionne Slagter | Animal Welfare Manager

Have you ever met someone whose energy exudes from them so powerfully that you cannot help but be affected? Well that is Dionne. I first met Dionne Slagter – Animal Welfare Manager – in Hanoi, Vietnam. She was to be my supervisor for three months on an animal welfare project we were working on. I was

Sarah Blake
Interviews Senior Level October 29, 2018 7 min read

Ian Drysdale | Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative

The Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative encourages dialogue and collaboration to strengthen efforts to protect the Mesoamerican Reef. Ian Drysdale is the Honduras Coordinator of the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, responsible for data collection and training, as well as partner relations, media and outreach efforts in Honduras. In this interview, Ian talks about

Rachel Gunn
Interviews Senior Level October 11, 2018 6 min read

Blue Ventures | Community-based Conservation

It all started with octopuses… In southern Madagascar, the community of Vezo became concerned that their fisheries were in decline. Blue Ventures, an award-winning marine conservation organisation stepped in and supported temporary closures of fishing zones, as a result, octopus landings increased dramatically, and local incomes grew. News soon spread and Blue Ventures introduced the Locally

Catherine Hunter
Interviews Senior Level September 10, 2018 6 min read

Frances Humber | Blue Ventures

After working over 12 years for Blue Ventures, an NGO that focuses on rebuilding tropical fisheries with coastal communities, Frances Humber has dedicated her entire professional career to non-profit and social enterprises and has a wealth of experience in marine conservation. I was fortunate enough to speak with Fran about how she developed from a

Sam Knowles
Animal Welfare Interviews September 3, 2018 6 min read

Louise Wilson | Conservation Dogs with Conservation Jobs

My Labrador can do “sit” and “salute” … and that’s about it, but there are some much better trained pups out there with well-respected jobs; those who act as seeing-eye dogs, hearing dogs, therapy dogs, avalanche rescue dogs, and those I want to talk about; conservation dogs. Conservation dogs are taking on increasingly vital roles

Sophie May Watts
Interviews Senior Level August 24, 2018 11 min read

David Hancocks | The Paradoxical World of Zoos

Renowned zoo architect, director and consultant, David Hancocks, has long provided controversial yet credible commentary on the captive animal industry. Having authored ‘Animals and Architecture’ and ‘A Different Nature: The Paradoxical World of Zoos and Their Uncertain Future’, in addition to other works, he is currently heavily engaged in writing a new book but was

Patrick Pester
Interviews Senior Level July 12, 2018 7 min read

Niall McCann | The front-line of conservation with National Park Rescue

Niall McCann has had a whirlwind of a career. When researching his background prior to our interview, there were so many different aspects to consider that I could have chatted with him for hours! He’s been on multiple expeditions, completed a PhD, filmed documentaries, and even broken his back whilst speed flying; there’s no denying

c.a.chivers@hotmail.com' Charlotte-Anne Chivers
Interviews Early Years July 11, 2018 6 min read

Andrew Russell | Building Chinko National Park from scratch

It’s mid-June and, in Chinko National Park, deep in the heart of the Central African Republic (CAR), the wet season is approaching. The atmosphere is hot and humid. The air black with thick swarms of mosquitoes and tsetse flies, their thirst for blood insatiable. Andrew Russell is just one month into his placement here. He has

Kathleen Retourne
Interviews Senior Level July 11, 2018 5 min read

Conservation Crisis | New game app now in stores

Step into the shoes of a conservationist tasked with saving an endangered species from extinction in Conservation Crisis, a game with a purpose where you play to save wildlife. It is a lesson in real-world conservation efforts, requiring you to think quickly and develop the right strategies to save a species from extinction. Tunza Games,

Dr Nick Askew
Interviews Senior Level July 9, 2018 4 min read

Moses Muthoki | Community-based Conservation

During my recent visit to Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya I met Moses Muthoki, the head of community development. Community-based conservation is huge part of the work of the conservancy. Here Moses shares his experiences and career advice for those wishing to follow his footsteps and work in community-based conservation… Moses’ role as head of

Catherine Hunter
Interviews Senior Level June 22, 2018 4 min read

Samuel Mutisya | Tearing up the conservation rule book

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, located in Northern Kenya is home to the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa, the last two remaining northern white rhino, a thriving wildlife community, thousands of domestic cattle, eco-tourism and many community projects. Ol Pejeta is tearing up the rule book of traditional conservation and combining conservation, community development, livestock

Catherine Hunter
Interviews Senior Level June 7, 2018 10 min read

Richard Thomas | TRAFFIC’s Global Communications Co-ordinator

Richard Thomas is responsible for all the outputs of TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, a leading NGO working globally to combat illegal / unsustainable trade in animals and plants. All information they pass into the public domain and to many of their donors goes through Richard and he also oversees updates to the website

Patrick Pester
Interviews Early Years April 19, 2018 4 min read

Chasing the elusive snow leopard dream

For many budding wildlife biologists, being paid to research a species as rare and elusive as the snow leopard is the dream. For Imogene Cancellare, a PhD student at the University of Delaware, this is her reality. Imogene kindly spoke with me about her journey to this position, and shared some advice for others starting

Sophie May Watts
Interviews Scientist April 16, 2018 3 min read

Trouble in Paradise: Advice and insight from Victor Bonito on saving reefs in Fiji

Director and head scientist for Reef Explorer (Fiji) Ltd, Victor Bonito has traveled the globe studying and exploring reefs including throughout Micronesia and U.S. Pacific Territories, Southeast Asia, Hawaii and Madagascar – and of course, Fiji.  Conservation Careers fishes for career advice for anyone ‘cray-sea’ about marine conservation.  The worlds’ reefs are in deep trouble, but

Paige Winslade
Interviews Mid Career March 21, 2018 8 min read

If you don’t ask you don’t get – network and skill share to achieve your goals: An Interview with filmmaker Lacy Wittman

It takes courage to ask for help. Even more so when that person is a stranger. Harder still to ask for expensive equipment, or request accommodation and travel expenses. But, by doing just that, filmmaker and photographer Lacy Wittman managed to turn her passion for elephants into an ongoing adventure and part-time career, at little

Kathleen Retourne
Volunteer & Internships Top Tips March 21, 2018 7 min read

How to Start your Career in Marine Biology

Breaking into the field of Marine Biology as a recent grad can be daunting and you’ll likely encounter many rejections. “Sorry you don’t have enough experience” is an over-used phrase that will hold you back on getting your lucky first job. But how do you break the cycle of need experience to get a job, but need a job

Oceanwildly
Interviews Senior Level March 21, 2018 5 min read

Insight into the NGO path of Conservation with Sophie Lewis

Sophie Lewis is the Responsible Whale Watching Project Manager at the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA). The WCA is a global coalition of organisations dedicated to the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises across the world. Here, Sophie discusses her career path and gives advice on how she ended up working for this wonderful organisation. Why

Caitlin Wilkinson
Senior Level Communicator March 7, 2018 5 min read

Communication and Conservation: an interview with Lexie Beach, Communication Coordinator of Sea Turtle Conservancy

Lexie Beach is the Communication Coordinator with Sea Turtle Conservancy, the world’s oldest sea turtle research and conservation group. For nearly 60 years, Sea Turtle Conservancy has worked to protect and conserve sea turtles and their habitats from extinction through research, education, and advocacy. Conservation Careers chats with Lexie about her role with Sea Turtle

Amber Zinser