Dr Alayne Cotterill
Research Staff
Since gaining a B.Sc. in Biology with Lancaster University in 1992 I have been working in wildlife conservation in Africa; initially in Zimbabwe and later in Kenya. During this time, I gained experience working with black rhino and endangered species conservation with the Zimbabwean Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management, as well working with projects focused on reducing human wildlife conflict through economic gain, such as CAMPFIRE and WWF’s monitoring of the hunting industry. I also gained qualifications and experience in the physical and chemical capture of wildlife. My M.Sc. with the University of Zimbabwe Tropical Resource Ecology Department in 1995, looked at the biological and economic costs and benefits associated with including lion in the newly expanding wildlife areas in Southern Africa. After completing my M.Sc., I continued to focus in the field of large carnivore /human conflict; my work has included setting up a project in the Sabi Valley Conservancy, Zimbabwe on monitoring the sustainable hunting of leopards, and since 2003 I have been the biologist for the Living with Lions, Laikipia Predator Project in Kenya. Working with people and carnivores to promote coexistence outside of protected areas has become my main focus, and my D.Phil. research looks at adaptations in lion behavioural ecology in response to living in a conflict landscape.