Background
After pursuing a focus on Ethology throughout my Biology degree in Tours (France), I studied in an Animal Behaviour programme at Bucknell University, USA, where I first experienced observing primates and social insects. Upon the completion of my Bachelor’s degree, I worked as a field scientist in Costa Rica (Lomas Barbudal), recording social behaviour in wild capuchins for a year. Following this experience, I went on to complete my Master’s degree in Animal Behaviour in Paris XIII. The following year, I went to Nigeria (Gashaka) for six months, recording vocalisations and social interactions in wild olive baboons, in collaboration with Roehampton University. Afterwards, I pursued my PhD research at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, in collaboration with the German Primate Centre and the University of Leipzig. I spent 2 years in the forest of Indonesia (Tangkoko) collecting behavioural data and genetic samples of wild crested macaques. Throughout these experiences, I have been directly involved in a variety of conservation issues and motivated conservation actions, including environmental education and dialogues with government representatives.
Current position
Currently, I manage a team of lecturers and international programme leaders for the Bristol Zoological Society: my work consists of overseeing staff that lead Bristol Zoo’s conservation projects in Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and the Philippines, as well as designing long-term strategies. I also lead one of the conservation programmes set in the Philippines with our flagship species, the Negros bleeding-heart dove. Supported by Darwin Initiative, our team monitor threatened wildlife population and protected areas using various techniques (e.g. camera traps). In addition, we implement alternative livelihood in the nearby communities to alleviate the pressure on the ecosystem. We also endeavour to assess objectively our conservation initiatives through Key Performance Indicators.
In addition, I supervise MSc students (e.g. from UWE and the University of Bristol and teach in an MSc degree (such as “Advanced Wildlife Conservation in Practice” in partnership with UWE). I also co-created a new MSc degree in Conservation Leadership starting September 2023.
Main research interests:
- Assessing conservation initiatives’ efficiency
- Improving conservation projects delivery
- Monitoring threatened species’ population
- Assessing alternative livelihood programmes
- Long-term conservation strategy design
Conservation organisation volunteering:
IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, SE Asia section member
IUCN SSC Pigeon and Dove Group
Primate Society of Great Britain treasurer and conservation grant reviewer
Niokolo Network trustee and secretary
Daphne Kerhoas 