Rocio Bardales Zegarra (2022)
Alumni Diploma Students
I am a Peruvian biologist and I graduated from San Agustin National University in Arequipa. When I finished, I volunteer at the Museum of Natural History at San Marcos University for almost two years, where I was part of the Mastozoology department. With their support and guidance, I worked on my thesis about the community of small rodents in a far area of tropical rain forest in the limit of Brazil. Since then, my interest in mammals just keep on growing and I tried to study different groups like primates and anteaters. I also participated in the census and monitoring of the reproduction of river turtles in the Manu Biosphere Reserve.
In 2019, I joined Panthera as a field researcher for their second project in Conexion Jaguar in Peru. This Program is integrated within the efforts of the organization to develop the Jaguar Corridor in South America together with private allies. After that, I have helped with the analysis of camera traps from different projects from Colombia, Surinam and Brazil. I am also a member of the scientific team in Panthera Colombia which has helped me increase my knowledge in felines, their interactions, threats and conservation efforts in Latin America. This all has increased my interest in studying big carnivores like the Jaguar and the benefits of its conservation.
I joined the WildCru Diploma to develop my professional skills as a conservationist biologist, and to learn from the team members and my peers about different conservation approaches in different parts of the world. I am especially interested in mammals’ interactions and the key role of carnivores in the web ecosystems. I hope to become an important member of the Jaguar corridor team and help the conservation of Jaguar populations in my country and South America.