Emily Davenport (she/her) is the founder and executive director of the Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance, a non-profit wildlife rescue centre in Colorado, USA with the mission to elevate the care and protection of wildlife which is done by fostering a sense of community and collaboration through the alliance. In this refreshingly real and insightful conversation, Emily shares her story and how she started a non-profit as well as her experiences combating gate-keeping and managing burnout and compassion fatigue within this space. Above all, Emily’s top advice is to never stop learning, regardless of where you’re at in your career!

#ITSAWILDLIFE

#itsawildlife is a podcast and blog, sharing the great work being done for wildlife conservation worldwide and solving problems for ecologists by ecologists. If you’re a fellow wildlifer, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been about the traps for a while, you’re in the right place!  Tune in each week to talk all things nature: amazing projects, inspiring ecologists, and step-by-step advice to land your dream job in wildlife conservation.  Read a transcript of this episode here.

FREE RESOURCES:

Feel like you’ve tried everything to land your dream job in wildlife conservation? We got you! Here’s a whole bunch of free resources to inspire your next move and hand you some tricks of the trade.

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

You can follow Emily's adventures on Instagram or check out Mammalz on their discord here.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review to support the show and share the love with your network. Check out the website to get on board and subscribe for #itsawildlife updates– we send monthly emails with fresh tips and fun updates! We’d love to hear from ya! Get in touch by email [email protected] or connect on Instagram @itisawildlife or Pinterest.

Kacie Hanke (pronouns: she/her) is a zoology student at UC Santa Barbara. Having found her passion for wildlife conservation, Kacie has spent her most recent summer working with the Forest Service as a field technician with Southern Steelhead, an endangered fish in Los Padres. Kacie shares her experience with science communication and social media and it’s power for spreading conservation stories as well as inspiring people to follow their passion and work as a scientist with wildlife.

#ITSAWILDLIFE

#itsawildlife is a podcast and blog, sharing the great work being done for wildlife conservation worldwide and solving problems for ecologists by ecologists. If you’re a fellow wildlifer, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been about the traps for a while, you’re in the right place!  Tune in each week to talk all things nature: amazing projects, inspiring ecologists, and step-by-step advice to land your dream job in wildlife conservation.  Read a transcript of this episode here.

FREE RESOURCES:

Feel like you’ve tried everything to land your dream job in wildlife conservation? We got you! Here’s a whole bunch of free resources to inspire your next move and hand you some tricks of the trade.

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

You can follow Kacie's adventures on Instagram @kacie.jr.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review to support the show and share the love with your network. Check out the website to get on board and subscribe for #itsawildlife updates– we send monthly emails with fresh tips and fun updates! We’d love to hear from ya! Get in touch by email [email protected] or connect on Instagram @itisawildlife or Pinterest.

Karla Pound, 34 years old, is a zookeeper and an expedition leader with an incredible story to tell. Currently with Coral Expeditions, Karla works on large tour boats, taking guests on expeditions through some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the world.

Having just finished guiding the Kimberley season in remote north-western Australia, Karla has jumped across to Cape York and Arnhem Land to guide in these incredible natural paradises before heading overseas at the end of the year to continue her adventures in this little-known but exciting profession.

We caught up to talk all about what it’s like to work as a naturalist guide, navigating seasonal contracts and tips for landing your dream job!

#ITSAWILDLIFE

#itsawildlife is a podcast and blog, sharing the great work being done for wildlife conservation worldwide and solving problems for ecologists by ecologists. If you’re a fellow wildlifer, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been about the traps for a while, you’re in the right place!  Tune in each week to talk all things nature: amazing projects, inspiring ecologists, and step-by-step advice to land your dream job in wildlife conservation.  Read a transcript of this episode here and here too!

FREE RESOURCES:

Feel like you’ve tried everything to land your dream job in wildlife conservation? We got you! Here’s a whole bunch of free resources to inspire your next move and hand you some tricks of the trade.

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

You can follow Karla's adventures on Instagram.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review to support the show and share the love with your network. Check out the website to get on board and subscribe for #itsawildlife updates– we send monthly emails with fresh tips and fun updates! We’d love to hear from ya! Get in touch by email [email protected] or connect on Instagram @itisawildlife or Pinterest.

#ITSAWILDLIFE

#itsawildlife is a podcast and blog, sharing the great work being done for wildlife conservation worldwide and solving problems for ecologists by ecologists. If you’re a fellow wildlifer, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been about the traps for a while, you’re in the right place!  Tune in each week to talk all things nature: amazing projects, inspiring ecologists, and step-by-step advice to land your dream job in wildlife conservation.  Read a transcript of this episode here.

FREE RESOURCES:

Feel like you’ve tried everything to land your dream job in wildlife conservation? We got you! Here’s a whole bunch of free resources to inspire your next move and hand you some tricks of the trade.

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review to support the show and share the love with your network. Check out the website to get on board and subscribe for #itsawildlife updates– we send monthly emails with fresh tips and fun updates! We’d love to hear from ya! Get in touch by email [email protected] or connect on Instagram @itisawildlife or Pinterest.

Lewis Smith (pronouns: he/him) is in his fourth year of wildlife conservation at the University of Kent, England, president of the Conservation Society there and was recently diagnosed with ADHD which has been a big part of his journey through this space. Lewis shares his experiences with us today as well as the importance of accommodating and embracing neurodiversity within the wildlife conservation field.

#ITSAWILDLIFE

#itsawildlife is a podcast and blog, sharing the great work being done for wildlife conservation worldwide and solving problems for ecologists by ecologists. If you’re a fellow wildlifer, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been about the traps for a while, you’re in the right place!  Tune in each week to talk all things nature: amazing projects, inspiring ecologists, and step-by-step advice to land your dream job in wildlife conservation.  Read a transcript of this episode here.

FREE RESOURCES:

Feel like you’ve tried everything to land your dream job in wildlife conservation? We got you! Here’s a whole bunch of free resources to inspire your next move and hand you some tricks of the trade.

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

You can follow Lewis' adventures on Instagram @wildlewf.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review to support the show and share the love with your network. Check out the website to get on board and subscribe for #itsawildlife updates– we send monthly emails with fresh tips and fun updates! We’d love to hear from ya! Get in touch by email [email protected] or connect on Instagram @itisawildlife or Pinterest.

Ariana Klappert (pronouns: she/her) is an all-rounded biologist with a passion for working with African mammals as well as a love of science communication which she does a lot of on the side. She recently completed her masters and is looking towards the next steps. We speak about Ariana’s experiences, ways to get involved in science communication and aiming for balance when your life is crazy busy! Wherever you’re at in your career, her main advice is to follow your passions and stick with it!

#ITSAWILDLIFE

#itsawildlife is a podcast and blog, sharing the great work being done for wildlife conservation worldwide and solving problems for ecologists by ecologists. If you’re a fellow wildlifer, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been about the traps for a while, you’re in the right place!  Tune in each week to talk all things nature: amazing projects, inspiring ecologists, and step-by-step advice to land your dream job in wildlife conservation.  Read a transcript of this episode here.

FREE RESOURCES:

Feel like you’ve tried everything to land your dream job in wildlife conservation? We got you! Here’s a whole bunch of free resources to inspire your next move and hand you some tricks of the trade.

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

You can follow Ariana's adventures on Instagram or check out Mammalz on their discord here.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review to support the show and share the love with your network. Check out the website to get on board and subscribe for #itsawildlife updates– we send monthly emails with fresh tips and fun updates! We’d love to hear from ya! Get in touch by email [email protected] or connect on Instagram @itisawildlife or Pinterest.

NOTE: this blog post is published in full on Conservation Careers blog.

Maria Hashmi, 21 years old, has a huge passion for all things zoology, especially reptiles. This fascination with protecting the natural world has led to her rebellion against expectations of her as a Pakistani woman to pursue a profession in wildlife conservation. Maria questions why women shouldn’t be involved in this field when Pakistan has so much wildlife in need of protection.

Pakistan is a country of 221 million people where 33.8 % live beneath the poverty line and while it is home to exceptional biodiversity, from Snow Leopard to Pangolin to Black Bear, many species are declining at alarming rates.

Motivated to turn this story around, since finishing school, Maria has built her network with the international community of wildlifers and now works online with Conservation Optimism, Pridelands Films and Reserva all on a voluntary basis as well as with her father on her family’s wildlife reserve.

Maria shares her experience as a woman pursuing zoology in this biodiversity blindspot to save Pakistan’s precious natural capital.

#ITSAWILDLIFE

#itsawildlife is a podcast and blog, sharing the great work being done for wildlife conservation worldwide and solving problems for ecologists by ecologists. If you’re a fellow wildlifer, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been about the traps for a while, you’re in the right place!  Tune in each week to talk all things nature: amazing projects, inspiring ecologists, and step-by-step advice to land your dream job in wildlife conservation.  Read a transcript of this episode here.

FREE RESOURCES:

Feel like you’ve tried everything to land your dream job in wildlife conservation? We got you! Here’s a whole bunch of free resources to inspire your next move and hand you some tricks of the trade.

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review to support the show and share the love with your network. Check out the website to get on board and subscribe for #itsawildlife updates– we send monthly emails with fresh tips and fun updates! We’d love to hear from ya! Get in touch by email [email protected] or connect on Instagram @itisawildlife or Pinterest.

Dr Susan Wiper (pronouns: she/her) is a primatologist and wildlife carer based at the Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary in Liberia, west Africa. Her current role involves the rehabilitation of 140 animals including Pangolins, monkeys and Pottos that have been rescued across the region. These wild animals are characteristic of Liberia’s untold biodiversity and Susan devotes her time to protecting these species and educating the community around their conservation. Susan shares her story as well as the amazing work they are doing at Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary to change the fate of wildlife in this area.

#ITSAWILDLIFE 

#itsawildlife is a podcast and blog, sharing the great work being done for wildlife conservation worldwide and solving problems for ecologists by ecologists. If you’re a fellow wildlifer, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been about the traps for a while, you’re in the right place!  Tune in each week to talk all things nature: amazing projects, inspiring ecologists, and step-by-step advice to land your dream job in wildlife conservation.  Read a transcript of this episode here.

FREE RESOURCES: 

Feel like you’ve tried everything to land your dream job in wildlife conservation? We got you! Here’s a whole bunch of free resources to inspire your next move and hand you some tricks of the trade.

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT: 

You can follow the Libassa Wildlife Sanctuary on their website, Instagram or Facebook.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review to support the show and share the love with your network. Check out the website to get on board and subscribe for #itsawildlife updates– we send monthly emails with fresh tips and fun updates! We’d love to hear from ya! Get in touch by email [email protected] or connect on Instagram @itisawildlife or Pinterest.

Dr Rachel Standish (pronouns: she/her) is a plant community ecologist, specializing in restoration ecology in damaged ecosystems with Murdoch University, in Perth, Western Australia. As she explains:

Rachels work is motivated not just by the beauty and importance of our ecosystems, but also their value for humans. We talk about her research as well as her experiences teaching university students as they follow the path towards careers in ecological research and conservation.

#ITSAWILDLIFE

FREE RESOURCES:

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT:

And if you have questions for Rachel, you can contact her via her email [email protected] you like what you hear, please subscribe, rate and review to support the show and share the love with your network. Check out the website to get on board and subscribe for #itsawildlife updates– we send monthly emails with fresh tips and fun updates!

Jannico Kelk (pronouns: he/him) is an ecologist and wildlife photography enthusiast, a precursor to his pursuit of this career path. From exciting short-term roles catching animals for field guide photographs and Netflix documentaries, to more stable long-term roles, Jannico’s passion and career has taken him all around Australia and all over the world. We caught up with Jannico to talk about his experience within the wildlife industry, the merits of shorter-term contracts compared with permanent positions as well as his advice for people navigating this space.

#ITSAWILDLIFE

FREE RESOURCES:

For more information, check out our website www.itisawildlife.com for more free resources, blog posts and more.

SUPPORT & CONNECT: