Hello from Canada! I’m so excited to have been selected as one of PDXWildlife’s interns heading to China in August. It has always been a dream of mine to travel to China and it is an even greater privilege to be able to study my favourite animal, the giant panda. My love of animals has been for as long as I can remember. This led me to complete my undergraduate degree in Animal Biology at the University of Guelph, including a research-based course studying Bengal Tigers; I investigated regular and white pigmented Bengal Tigers’ use of water in association with the thermal environment.   After receiving my degree in Animal Biology, I completed a post-graduate certificate through the University of Florida in Wildlife Forensic Science and Conservation.

I have always had a passion for animals and have had the opportunity to work with companion animals, large animals and wildlife. I have worked and volunteered at vet clinics in both Toronto and England, as well as on a Thoroughbred racehorse farm. I have most recently had an amazing opportunity working at a wildlife rehabilitation centre caring for hundreds of injured and orphaned wildlife. Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre has given me amazing hands-on experience in syringe feeding baby squirrels, rabbits and birds, as well as bottle feeding baby raccoons and fawns. I have also had the privilege to care for foxes and numerous birds including owls, swans, goslings and ducklings. This has been an extremely rewarding experience as animals impact our world and contribute to a functioning ecosystem. I’m looking forward to using my skills from my experiences to help with research conducted on Giant Pandas to help better conserve their population.

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Katie is our third intern for our Bifengxia research program and will be conducting stereotypic and maternal observations on giant pandas. We’re excited to have you on board Katie!