Due to a delay in the approval of my Mauritian work visa, I unexpectedly had some time to explore other conservation projects on my way to Mauritius. Thank you to Pat and Alan Koval for supporting my journey and helping me see some of these amazing conservation projects along the way!

Level 0: My Least Favourite Part of Zoboomafoo

Every young biologist has that one nature show that helped brainwash them into becoming a biologist.

For me, that show was Zoboomafoo.

I loved the animals, the adventures, the conservation messages… but there was one problem.

Zabu.

I have always been a little scared of primates. Not just a little, actually. I mean specifically the kind of fear I have for Jack the monkey from Pirates of the Caribbean. You know the one. The one that looks like it knows exactly what you did last summer.

As an ecologist, I know that every species has a role in an ecosystem. I care deeply about wildlife, and I’m a vegetarian because I care about living things.

Ok so I know it’s kinda silly, me being scared of primates when I think prairie rattlesnakes are just the cutest lil guys ever.

But lemurs?

They are so scary.

Of course, there’s a problem with being afraid of wildlife when you want to work in conservation. Fear of an animal can easily become discomfort, discomfort can become apathy, and apathy can eventually become persecution.

So, if I wanted to work in conservation, I figured I probably needed to get over my fear.

Enter: the lemur training arc.

Level 1: The Lemurs of Jersey Zoo

My first step was Jersey Zoo.

During my time at the Durrell Endangered Species Management course, I quickly became very familiar with the black-and-white ruffed lemurs.

Mostly because they screamed.

Every night. Right outside our hostel.

I could hear them calling as I was trying to fall asleep, which was perhaps not the relaxing bedtime soundtrack I had imagined for my conservation training.

But overtime, I got used to it. The calling lemurs became part of my nightly routine.

I saw the ring-tailed lemurs at Lemur Lake during our lunch breaks. My fellow classmates would rave about how they were so cute and how much they loved the lemurs. Even having a movie night in the hostel living room one night as a break from our studying. Even my friends back home on the prairies love King Julian and would listen to the sound track all summer long while we were spraying invasive weeds. Seemingly everyone I know loves lemures.

But Me?

It’s going to take more than a catchy song and nightly serenades to convince me.

But after being screamed to sleep by lemurs for long enough, I figured I gained enough experience points for level 2.