Tara Pirie

Nature and wildlife have been in my blood ever since I can remember. As soon as I turned 16, I volunteered at the local zoo every holiday and became a full time keeper after gaining my BSc in Zoology. However I was eager to observe animals in the wild which motivated me to became a safari guide in South Africa. I gained valuable field experience during the decade of living and working in the African bush. The latter four years were dedicated to researching leopards living outside large protected areas with the Ingwe Leopard Research group. I used camera traps which were donated through the "Ingwe Camera Club" ; a scheme I set up through which people could be involved in the research. These cameras were used to monitor leopard and other carnivore movement in the area, in order to provide local authorities and landowners with data which could be used to make informed decisions regarding the wildlife. We also worked with local school children, farmers and international volunteers and tourists in order to raise awareness about the wildlife and conservation issues. I joined the University of Reading in 2013 in order to study for a PhD while conducting the research in South Africa which I hope to complete in 2016.

May 2016