Lara Stone graduated from the University of Roehampton with a BSc in Zoology and is about to embark on a journey of a lifetime working for the World of Wildlife Fund (WWF). She will be living in the Democratic Republic of Congo to study a rare and endangered chimpanzee species, called the Bonobo.
She started her studies at Roehampton in 2006 and completed her MSc in Primate Biology, Behaviour and Conservation.
She said: “I knew from a young age that I wanted to work with animals and help save our natural world, so it was a no-brainer for me to enrol on to the Zoology course at Roehampton. It was in my second year that I decided to focus on a pathway of primatology and I completely have my tutor at the time, Professor Stuart Semple, to thank for that.”
Lara Stone will be part of the WWF Bonobo Conservation Project in the Lac Tumba region of the Democratic Republic of Congo as the Bonobo habituation team leader. The objectives of the project are to continue research and support ecotourism activities with two groups of bonobos. They will also conserve the surrounding landscape and biodiversity through integrated management activities within the local communities.
She said: “The teaching and opportunities that Roehampton provided me with served as the starting blocks towards my professional development as a zoologist. In my new role, I will be responsible for the supervision of local trackers that follow the bonobos on a daily basis. My work will also include conflict management and mitigation, data collection, entry and analysis as well as writing progress reports.”
Lara Stone’s previous work experiences include travelling to Borneo working with Orangutans and South Africa where she worked with chimpanzees, baboons and alongside wildlife veterinarians. She also went to Madagascar where she spent months surveying the coral reefs, and even Sri Lanka where she volunteered to help street dogs.
A zoology degree could lead to a range of career opportunities in animal welfare, ecology, conservation or a specialisation in particular group of animals. To study Zoology at the University of Roehampton, we offer an integrated BSc and MSc Zoology course and BSc in Zoology. You can also further your studies on our MRes Primate Biology, Behaviour and Conservation course.