This post will finish out the “introductions” for our fall 2016 interns.  Please help me welcome Sofany Montoya to the PDXWildlife team. Sofany didn’t bring a parent with her but I feel like they must be wonderful people because they sure did raise a great women!  I think you’ll fall in love with her as much as I did once you read her story below (especially because she’s a fellow panda-aficionado):

“Nǐ hǎo! My name is Sofany Montoya and I am one of the lucky fall interns this year! I’m from Miami, FL and I recently graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in both Animal Science, and Environmental Science and Sustainability. I have been obsessed with nature and animals for as long as I can remember, and have made it my life’s goal to work with them. This year I am applying to veterinary school, but am also considering a graduate program in conservation research.

Sofany’s been a panda lover from a young age.

From a young age I was fascinated with all things animal, particularly the Giant Panda. I even have a Panda tattoo!

Her tattoo that proves her devotion to our favorite endangered species!

I was always eager to learn what I could about every animal that I suddenly discovered. This meant spending hours watching tv programs about animals or reading books about them (I still do these things!) As soon as I was able to, I worked with animals. In high school I volunteered at the DuMond Conservancy, a non-profit that educates the public about conservation of non-human primates. Since then, I have worked with animals in a number of settings – a small animal vet clinic, a sheep maternal behavior study, a horse farm, Zoo Miami and now with PDX Wildlife.

Sofany studying animal nutrition at Cornell arms deep in the rumen.

In my efforts to expand my knowledge, I have completed numerous courses in animal biology, ecology, reproduction, physiology, immunology, etc. I even enrolled in a two-week course at the Mpala Research Center in Nanyuki, Kenya to learn about field biology and ecology. The list is never-ending! As I learned more about these animals that I love so much, it made me realize that environmental conservation is equally important. This prompted me to pursue my second degree.

Sofany at the equator in Kenya for a tropical field biology class.

When I came across the post for the PDXWildlife internship, I practically fell off my seat. I thought to myself “this internship is made for me!” and I can’t even begin to explain how I felt (and still feel) when I was accepted as an intern. I may still be juggling between what exact career to pursue, but the opportunity to play a role in the conservation of a species is something out of my dreams.

 “Wildlife is nature’s gift, preservation is our gratitude.”
-Jack Hanna 

-Sofany”