Welcome Claire Harrison.

In May 2010, Claire joined Earthwatch Australia as the new Field Management Officer.  For three years previous, she was working for AWDC (African Wild Dog Conservation, now Zambian Carnivore Programme) in Zambia. The Zambian Carnivore Programme is a non-profit Zambian registered trust dedicated to conserving large carnivore species and their habitat in one of Africa's most wildlife-rich countries. Species studied included the African Wild Dogs (the second most endangered carnivore in Africa), Lions and Spotted Hyenas, as well as vegetation and prey studies.

Claire was the project Ecologist and coordinated the field work on African Wild Dogs and other carnivores that included identification, data collection, collaring, radio tracking, surveys, and genetic work. Claire also assisted with the AWDC community education programs in Zambia.

Before and after Africa, Claire worked for the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

After completing a Bachelor of Science with a double major (Biology and Anatomy & Histology) in 2004, Claire went on to a Masters of Applied Science (Wildlife Health and Population Management) in 2006 with a research program on urban fox populations and their management, both with the University of Sydney.

With extensive experience in the field including remote logistics, project design and management, radio telemetry, animal trapping and monitoring, ArcGIS mapping, and DNA analysis, she brings some ideal skills and knowledge to the position of Field Management Officer.

Having moved to Melbourne from her hometown of Sydney, Claire now has a new qualification to add to her already impressive list: understanding the instructions and using the enclosed Allen key to assemble IKEA furniture. 

Claire is also an excellent wildlife photographer and has many brilliant shots taken from her time in Africa.

Welcome once again, Claire. 

Websites:

The Zambian Carnivore Programme http://www.zambiacarnivores.org/

The African Wild Dog Conservation http://www.awdczambia.org/