An Amazon adventure
Discover how a placement to the Amazon rainforest inspired current BSc (Hons) Zoology student Louisa Watson's passion for wildlife rehabilitation and primatology

 Year 3 BSc (Hons) Zoology student
?A passion for primatology, zoology and behavioural ecology
?Placements in Ecuador, Canada and Mexico 2022/23
My first memory is when I was 4 years old and I would tell people I wanted to be a ‘safari vet’ when I was older. This progressed to zookeeper when I was 8 and zoologist when I was 12.
The course has definitely helped by giving me insight into the research world, which has enabled me to think about a career focus I would like to work towards.
I was contacted by a university in Puerto Rico to participate in a seminar and talk about my journey into zoology, something I would never have had the confidence to do before I pushed myself out of my comfort zone.
It was so refreshing not being surrounded by technology 24/7, living life in the moment, surrounded by an amazing ecosystem.
As I want to go into primatology, being trusted to take a very young and vulnerable woolly monkey out into the jungle to teach her what her mother would be showing her was a highlight. It taught me a lot about how they communicate and behave.
It is incredibly rewarding to see animals going from being on the brink of death to thriving and living the life they should be – which is what I witnessed with the young tamandua I cared for.