ARC is fortunate to partner with numerous professionals who have dedicated their careers to researching and protecting Tanzania’s diverse flora and fauna (in case you missed it, be sure to check out our Incredibly Unique Animals posts that explore the endemic animals of Tanzania). Every Tuesday for the next eight weeks, this blog series will take you behind the scenes to give you a candid portrayal of the lives of a diverse group of conservationists – you’ll learn about their current research, favorite species, and what inspires them to do their work. Last week, we introduced you to Dr. Katarzyna Nowak and this week we present Trevor Jones who co-directs the Udzungwa Elephant Project with Katarzyna.

Trevor Jones spends most of his time in the Udzungwa Mountains of southern Tanzania, where he runs an elephant research and conservation project with his partner, Dr. Katarzyna Nowak. They have been involved in this research for three years and have one field station, a landrover, and a small but strong team of Tanzanian research assistants and students. The idea behind the Udzungwa Elephant Project is to work with communities and the local government on elephant conservation in order to also protect the amazing montane forests and other habitats where they are found. Trevor has also gotten involved in some national issues, most recently helping to write Tanzania’s national elephant management plan. He came to the Udzungwa Mountains in 2002, and before launching the elephant project, he contributed to a variety of research projects and consultancies on endangered species (mostly primates and antelopes), and was involved in community-based conservation. He also founded and co-runs (though increasingly from afar) the Handa Island Skua Project in Scotland, a long-term seabird monitoring program, which is kept going annually by voluntary skua enthusiasts.

Did you always know you wanted to be a conservation biologist? What has your journey been like becoming one?
It was a natural progression, really. Although I didn’t know I wanted to be a wildlife biologist until I was about 25, before that I was into animal welfare and behavior. I loved traveling to wild places and birding and watching animals, so I was doing voluntary nature reserve wardening and wildlife monitoring, but was realizing that I needed to do something that would keep my brain more active and challenged every day. Then the penny dropped, so I started saving and scamming and eventually got back to university to study zoology (via some wonderful times in the Scottish Highlands). As soon as I had finished, I took out an overdraft and left for East Africa, mainly because I had a thing about elephants to be honest. I have learned so much in Tanzania, especially in the first few years that I was here. It takes ages to just assimilate and begin to understand such a different culture and history and way of life. I’ve kind of stopped traveling though because I increasingly feel that experiences become richer the longer you stay in one place and the more you come to know it (plus you can become more effective at what you’re trying to do, which is obviously important on a personal level).

What research are you currently working on?
I am finishing up a PhD thesis about predictors of large mammal distribution and density in the montane forests of the  Udzungwa Mountains, and various aspects of elephant ecology and conservation in Udzungwa and surrounding systems.

What is the longest time you’ve spent researching one species? 
I’ve been coordinating an annual monitoring program on the breeding and feeding ecology of great and Arctic skuas (maligned and utterly wonderful birds) in Scotland for 10 years now.

What has been the most rewarding discovery of your career? 
It would have to be the kipunji in Udzungwa in 2004. It was a pretty stressful time (a new monkey really brings out the worst in some people and on top of everything, I nearly died of a tick disease), but it seems possible, so far at least, and this is not always the case, that the discovery and subsequent efforts may be helping to protect them. So I’m pretty proud of that.

Do you have a favorite species? If so, which one? 
Oh, so many – how about elephants and Arctic skuas?

What has been your favorite research site(s) you’ve worked on? 
Ng’ung’umbi swamps in the Udzungwa Mountains, down by the river in Ruaha National Park, and anywhere on Handa Island.

If you could tell people one thing about species extinction, what would it be? 
To wealthy westerners (i.e., most of us), I would say: think hard about what you really need to be happy and compare this to what you’re told every day that you need to be happy, and then start consuming less stuff – it’s not that hard and it’s for your own good too. To the developing world: stop copying us (i.e., the “wealthy westerners”) because it’s a road to ruin; build a better world based on your own values, and your still-stronger connection to nature.

What inspires you to do this kind of work? 
I think it’s partly selfish: to stay sane and happy at the same time. I’m the sort of person who has to be engaged with what I’m most passionate about; if I’m not doing that, I get so bored. I need wildlife and wild places. I work with lovely people (especially in Tanzania), and the work is stimulating and challenging. As long as you can keep the black dog of massive unprecedented destruction of the natural world and senseless slaughter of beautiful and intelligent animals at bay, it’s a great life!

When not in the field what do you enjoy doing in your free time? 
Catching up with friends, watching films (especially British, Spanish, and Iranian) and football, going to punk gigs, birding, and mountain walking.

What websites or blogs do you frequently visit? 
The Guardian, BBC, a bit of Facebook… I try not to get sucked in beyond that.

What was the last book you read? 
Straw Dogs by John Gray

What is currently playing on your iPod? 
Tube Disasters by Flux of Pink Indians

Learn more about Trevor’s work with the Udzungwa Elephant Project

Follow the Udzungwa Elephant Project on Facebook 

Browse Trevor’s publications