Conservation Biologist

What is a conservation biologist? A conservation biologist is driven to protect all life on the planet. As a conservation biologist, your research, observant skills and innovative ideas help to maintain and improve animal populations, stop accelerated extinctions of endangered life, and keep the earth healthy.

In Canada, it is common to drive through National Parks like Banff or Gatineau Park, where individuals are exposed to and enthralled by the beauty in the landscape and mesmerized by animals that they don’t come across on a day-to-day basis. From wolves looking for their next hunt to deer enjoying wild berries, and eagles soaring, all these animals interacting with one another play a big part in Canada’s natural ecosystem

As a conservation biologist, you may monitor environmental conditions, population sizes and other important environmental health indicators. Conservation biologists emphasize the use of planning and sustainable management practices to prevent species extinction and reverse damages to ecosystems.

This aspect of a conservation biologist’s job typically involves working closely with landowners and governments at municipal, provincial, and federal levels. Many conservation biologists collaborate with other scientists and technicians.

Rhinoceroses are a poignant example of the importance of conservation biologists’ work. Once deemed extinct, the Southern White Rhino has now reached a stable population of over 20,000.

This rebound was made possible through conservation efforts in their natural habitats in Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. When conservation biologists control conditions within the environment, sustaining endangered species becomes more achievable.