Primatology?

RE: Primatology?

Diane Westwood — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 07:55:58 GMT

Wild Futures near St Ives is the place I would go if I wanted to work with primates.

RE: Primatology?

Sam.23 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 22:49:48 GMT

Has your friend tried any overseas projects? Conservation projects could be a good start they're usually in need of volunteers :) Qualification wise, before nursing I did a degree in Zoology with units in Primate Biology and Social Systems. Might be worth a look, to get onto that you do need A Level or equivalent in science though.

RE: Primatology?

Charmaloo88 — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 09:12:44 GMT

All passed on thank you all!
She's having second thoughts about the salary cut she's going to take (she currently works in fashion).
I just said welcome to the world of animal care haha!

RE: Primatology?

Snowb — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 08:17:44 GMT

Also the course at Oxford brooks is very good, seen lots of people come through here

https://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/primate-conservation/

RE: Primatology?

Snowb — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 21:13:59 GMT

Hi, they could try my partners project to gain experience, they do a volunteer programme

http://www.borneonaturefoundation.org/en/

Hope they get their foot in the door

RE: Primatology?

Charmaloo88 — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:43:02 GMT

Thanks Celine that's really helpful! I think she's in it for the long run so is willing to put in all the time, effort and money required.

I'll pass this all on and if you think of anything else give me a shout :)

RE: Primatology?

Celine — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:32:24 GMT

What, exactly, does your friend want to do? If they want to do the true meaning of primatology (study primates, do wonderful field research, publish data and basically be Jane Goodall) they'll nowadays need to have at least an MSc in Biology (and actually more and more an MSc is being scoffed at and PhD is minimum.) Your friend should be aware there is almost never any direct contact with the animals themselves.

If they just want to work hands-on with primates, be it in captive institutions like zoos, research facilities (in a carer position rather than as a researcher) or in in-situ rescue situations then that's not primatology. This is where your past experience and who-you-know comes in. I would suggest volunteering somewhere worthy (see below) to see if it's for you and then moving on from there. FYI anyone wanting to take the route into zookeeping will need to take the long slog through probably doing an animal care course at college and then pester their local zoo to do volunteering with them. And it's going to be 98% faeces, just to warn you. And even if you eventually get taken on as a zookeeper you should do the DMZAA (Diploma in Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals) to actually be a qualified zookeeper (much like the qual / non-qual VN debate)

Senda Verde is a really excellent program

http://www.sendaverde.com/volunteer_program.html

Also Esperanza Verde (don't know as much about them)

http://www.esperanzaverdeperu.com/en/volunteering/

And in Indonesia Tasikoki is very good too.

http://www.tasikoki.org/volunteer/

Whatever you do DONT go to a place that lets you volunteer hands-on with Orangutans as soon as you get there - the more sensible places will keep you in "quarantine" for a month or so before you can have direct contact.

Hope that helps!

RE: Primatology?

melanie lavender — Wed, 15 Feb 2017 17:24:40 GMT

Hi there

I would start by contacting London zoo etc, they might be able to give advise.

Also just start contacting colleges as a means to finding a course or anyone with knowledge.

"Dont ask, dont get!"