Experience

ANDEAN BEAR FOUNDATION

• United States
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Executive Director

  • Jun 2012 - Present

  As executive director of the Andean Bear Foundation, I have been responsible for a number of key activities in addition to the research activities I perform as a biologist for the foundation. These include: Designing, developing and implementing short/ long term strategic plans to ensure effective operation of the Foundation Coordinating Foundation activities in a cost effective and time efficient manner Successful grant writing, management and reconciliation including grants from NGS, ZCOG, IBA and AvesFrance. Maintaining healthy communication between foundation members & motivating individuals to succeed in designated roles Mediating with locally-based organisations and facilitating negotiations with Ecuadorian entities and rural people Manage international aspects of foundation work; fundraising, marketing, education, awareness, grant writing & publicity Maintaining foundation supporters informed of our activity through website updates, social media and newsletters Formulating quarterly report for the Board of Directors, outlining progress and current issues Developing budgets for each financial year for Board approval Working together with other Foundation biologists to support their research, and assist with their publications Liaising with Foundation educators to understand and support their environmental educational programs Coordinating the overseas volunteer programs, in conjunction with individual project directors Performing staff and volunteer evaluations and providing letters of reference when necessary.

• Wildlife Biologist

  • Jul 2003 - Present

  Wild Andean bear research program: Directing local workers and groups of international volunteers to accomplish short term and long term project goals. Training of local workers and volunteers in use of telemetry equipment, GPS, compass. Human-Bear Conflict situation management, working with local communities and creating projects to offset damages Camera trapping to estimate bear and tapir densities and population dynamics. Bear trap site scouting, trap transportation, assembly and activation Bear capture, tranquilisation, collar deployment, morphological measurement & blood, hair, and faeces sampling Organisation and leadership of daily bear tracking groups using radio/ GPS telemetry equipment Triangulation, MCP, NNCH and Kernel analysis of collected data to provide home range and core area estimates Identification, protection and native tree reforestation of wild bear corridors in fragmented habitat Implementation of environmental education programs in local schools and communities Writing and updating of website content for Andean Bear Foundation website.Rescue, rehabilitation and reintroduction of bears: Intensive care of orphaned cubs, bottle feeding and subsequent weaning onto a solid diet Participation in the design of bear rehabilitation protocols and strategies Formulation of bear training strategies to teach bears how to manipulate unfamiliar native food resources Collection and provision of wild bear food in its natural state, increasing quantity as release dates approach Natural enrichment of bear rehabilitation enclosures Evaluation of the bear’s readiness to return to wild based on protocols Assistance of veterinarian in bear medical check-ups prior to release Release mission assistance; take final samples & measurements and monitor bear health ‘en route’ to release site Species representation at the 2018 IBA Conference and IFAW workshop for Orphaned Bear Cubs in Russia in June 2007.



Wild Mountain Tapir Research Program

• Wildlife Biologist

  • Jan 2016 - Present

  I participated in the capture, collar deployment, blood and hair sampling and tracking of 12 critically endangered mountain tapirs in paramo ecosystem, providing data on population density, home range and habitat use following the same procedures used in the job description for the Andean Bear Foundation listed above. I participated in the capture, collar deployment, blood and hair sampling and tracking of 12 critically endangered mountain tapirs in paramo ecosystem, providing data on population density, home range and habitat use following the same procedures used in the job description for the Andean Bear Foundation listed above.



Chasqui Treks Tours/ Global Works Travel/ World Challenge/ Carpe Diem Adventures/ Ecuador Expedition

• Naturalist, Community Tour Guide

  • Jun 2011 - Present

  At regular intervals over the past 11 years (prior to the COVID pandemic), I have been contracted as a guide in various countries throughout Latin America to lead groups of tourists in a variety of habitats and ecosystems, teaching them about nature, guiding them on challenging mountain hikes and summit ascents, and immersing them in native indigenous cultures. My guiding work entailed project scouting, logistical planning, activity organization, budgeting, language teaching, performing first aid and basic medical care, maintaining regular communication with head office, writing participant and peer evaluations, and providing detailed trip appraisals with suggestions of how subsequent trips can improve.


Canopyco Reforestation Company
• Director Of Field Operations

  • Dec 2010 - Present


Yanacocha Rescue Centre

• Ecuador
• Veterinary Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Manager, Head biologist

  • Apr 2009 - Jan 2012

  At the time of my employment, Yanacocha Rescue Centre housed almost 200 animals including jaguars, pumas, ocelots, peccaries, caiman, tayras, kinkajous, coatis, boas and anacondas. Procedures and methods being used in providing animal welfare and healthy diets were inadequate and there was a very limited income source and a lack of staff to satisfactorily care for the animals. During my 3 years managing the center I succeeded in meeting the objectives I set myself under challenging circumstances to provide the basis from which to continuously maintain high standards of animal care, setting Yanacocha up to become one of the better run rescue centers in Ecuador. My main tasks and achievements included: • Management of day to day running of the rescue center, directing local workers and international volunteers alike to ensure animal wellbeing, staff morale and the smooth operation of the center. • Revolutionized protocols on animal welfare, veterinary care, enclosure design and enrichment in concordance with the five freedoms philosophy and following welfare guidelines proposed by AZA and EAZA. • Reformation of animal diets, creating species specific protocols incorporating balance, variety and wild foodstuffs • Trained both local and international staff to follow the new welfare protocols and practices. • Creation and management of a successful volunteer program which provides vital income for the center in order to provide high levels of care for its animals. • Creation of strict hygiene and waste management guidelines. • Ordering and purchasing of food and stock for the center. • Rescue and reception of often sick, badly treated, malnourished animals. • Providing basic veterinary care and assist the visiting vet when more serious problems arose. • Design and construction of a quarantine area. • Design and content composition of a web page for the center. • Design and implementation of an environmental education signposting system within the center.