Life rewards the stubborn

My name is Fiorella Sánchez, I am a wildlife biologist from Costa Rica with an MSc. in Wild Animal Biology from the Zoological Society of London. Some weeks ago, my dear friend, Jack, asked me to write an article for this blog about my journey as a junior-level professional working for the IUCN. I feel …

Wildlife Biologists and Their Quest to Better Understand Mother Nature

They are ubiquitous fixtures in blockbuster Hollywood films: A thirtysomething, athletic woman in hiking boots running across the jungles of the Amazon; an elderly, bespectacled English gentleman conducting a top secret marine experiment in the uncharted waters of the Pacific; or a tall, well-built man scouring the Himalayas to investigate reports of a species of …

5 Things They Don’t Teach You About Wildlife Conservation at University

In a similar way to how a necropsy can reveal the hidden inner workings and health complications of an animal, university is great for learning about the nuts and bolts of wildlife conservation. In the sterile classrooms it is possible to dissect programs and organisations to reveal what makes them work, and more importantly what …

Could honeybees be the unlikely protector of marula trees?

One of the concerns which continually raises its head with African elephants (Loxodonta africana) in fenced-off reserves is their impact on large tree species such as the marula tree (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra). In South Africa’s Kruger National Park (KNP), researchers have identified elephant impact as a major factor contributing to the decline of marula …

On owlflies and intrigue

“Every kid starts out as a natural-born scientist, and then we beat it out of them. A few trickle through the system with their wonder and enthusiasm for science intact.” - Carl Sagan There is an inquisitiveness that once ran through us all as children. It’s a necessary part of being human: it’s a function …

7 steps to help you to get a job in wildlife conservation

A lot of people ask me how they too can get paid for doing wildlife conservation work. While there is obviously no single answer to this, there are several things that you can do to greatly help your chances. 1. Write a new CV (curriculum vitae) Take my advice here and take whatever CVs that …