Wildcats Interview

Question 1

Tell us about yourself

Answer 1

• zoology graduate 2 years ago
• 1 year paid work and short term volunteering (from south africa to mull)
• decided to pursue career in conservation so…
• this year I’ve been LTVing (skomer, spurn)
• learnt I want to do fieldwork
• now looking for something for winter that would compliment what i’ve already done but mainly but allow me to gain new skills and experiences + keep me out and about doing practical stuff over winter

Question 2

Why this role?

Answer 2

• think I’d enjoy it: walking and driving, had tasters enough to be confident I’d enjoy it
• mammals
• would be suited to it but would also learn some really valuable skills and gain experience that would be really useful going forward
• interesting to be involved in a conservation project that’s much more hands on and a bit different to the projects i’ve been involved in before
• exciting time in the project

Question 3

What would you bring?

Answer 3

Enthusiasm, positive attitude, desire to learn new skills and get stuck in, pride in work and the project

Question 4

Duties of the role?

Answer 4

Radio-tracking collared wildcats and downloading GPS data
maybe some camera trap stuff

Question 5

Strong interest in Scottish wildcat recovery and conservation

Answer 5

watched doc
uni
lotti at aigas
moved to highlands

Question 6

Desire to learn about the challenges involved in species restorations

Answer 6

watched doc
uni
lotti at aigas
moved to highlands

Question 7

Fieldwork experience in remote and challenging conditions

Answer 7

skomer, spurn, south africa
most relevant is probably mull

Question 8

Confidence driving 4x4 in difficult and challenging conditions

Answer 8

skomer gator
eager and quick to learn and gain experience

Question 9

Animal tracking

Answer 9

south africa (taster)

Question 10

Responsible attitude to health and safety

Answer 10

emergency first aid at work trained, recent refresher specific to remote locations
skomer!

• equipment
• surroundings and environment
• weather
• communication
• safety of wildlife

Question 11

Working unsupervised

Answer 11

spurn, skomer, shop

Question 12

Willingness to walk long distances
- challenging terrains
- all weathers

Answer 12

skomer (burrow walking)
mull
hobbies
south africa

Question 13

Data collection, handling and recording

Answer 13

skomer - project, productivity plot
uni - diss, crickets
VSAS

Question 14

Radio-tracking collared wildcats

Question 15

Downloading GPS data

Answer 15

skomer project
uni diss
learning GIS

Question 16

Camera trap checks

Answer 16

• South Africa
• Uni

Question 17

Camera trap image analysis

Answer 17

south africa!