Working in the wild is, for many people, the dream job. The University of Otago's Postgraduate Diploma in Wildlife Management is one way to make that dream a reality. The longest running programme of its kind in New Zealand, the Diploma was introduced at Otago in the 60s and in the last five years, the option to continue on to Masters level has also been available.
For Danielle Shanahan the Wildlife Management course was the perfect stepping stone as she pursued her passion for conservation.
“I completed the Diploma in Wildlife Management and the Masters program in 2004. The program taught me how to question the status quo in wildlife management, and that science helps to ensure conservation decisions are robust and can stand up to any challenge.
Since studying at Otago, Danielle's passion and the skills acquired through the course have taken her around the world, allowing her to contribute to conservation in many countries: she has tracked Asian elephants through the jungles of Myanmar, assessed the suitability of reintroduction sites in China and Mongolia for wild horses, and investigated conservation issues for bellbirds and other native birds on remote New Zealand islands. Danielle has also furthered her studies, completing a PhD on birds in the spectacular rainforests of Queensland. She now works for the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and is helping set the direction for the growth of Queensland's national park system.
“The course teaches you to actively seek better answers and solutions to wildlife issues—a skill that is sought after all over the world. The exciting opportunities that have come my way are attributable to the fantastic grounding I received through the Wildlife Management courses.”