Welcome to my series of interviews with some wonderful people who work within the natural world, from zoo keepers, to museum curators and everything in between and those that are on the path to working in these positions too. Be inspired for a future where you can combine your love of nature with your day job. I hope you enjoy these interviews, that you can learn something from them and they can inspire you.

Now let me introduce you to Lorraine.....

Name

Lorraine Miller

Age 

39

Location

East Midlands, UK

What do you do?

Zoological consultant and conservation author. I am also an ambassador, trustee, media director and fundraiser for several animal welfare, health and conservation charities.

How did you get into it? 

I always knew I wanted to work with wildlife and had set my sights on a career as a zookeeper from a young age. I took a gap year after I finished school and travelled to Sri Lanka to work with elephants, where I fell in love with both travelling and working with wild animals. As soon as I returned to the UK I enrolled on a college course and obtained a foundation degree (Fd) in zoology and went on to complete my bachelor of science (BSc Hons) in wildlife conservation. 

I was extremely lucky to land my first zookeeping job straight after university after volunteering at my local zoo, where I progressed from an assistant keeper to senior keeper of primates, running a section with over 200 animals and a team of 8 staff. After 8 years at my first zoo, I moved to New Zealand to facilitate the transfer of the first gorillas into the country. This was a huge project for me and a steep learning curve into the world of consultancy.  After 7 more years of keeping in various places I made the move to consultancy, where I was able to support other facilities with their animal management needs, advise European Endangered Species Breeding Programs and explore different roles such as conservation communication and fundraising.

What made you want to do what you do?

Zookeeping was the perfect career for me to begin with, I loved working hands on with the animals and gained so much experienced not just in animal management but welfare and education too. I absolutely adored my time zookeeping but for me it was the need to be more involved in conservation that drove my decision to move to consultancy and publishing. I wanted to work more with conservation and welfare charities, to advise sanctuaries and highlight their work in a meaningful way that may impact their conservation and welfare outcomes. 

What does it involve?

Consultancy involves supporting other facilities such as zoos or sanctuaries with the management of their animals. This often involves helping them with such things as animal training, enrichment, nutrition, Introduction and behavioural management and transport. I also take students on conservation and sustainability focused tours, with a fantastic B-Corp organisation called Flooglebinder, to supplement their studies, introduce them to conservation projects and help them connect with nature. 

As a conservation author I write about the projects I have visited, highlighting the work they do and the people who are making a difference in the world of conservation. This helps those individuals and organisations to gain supporters and raise vital funds to continue their work.

Alongside this I also work with several charities. I am a trustee and media director for the Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation, where I focus on communication and fundraising to support their work in Asian elephant health. I am an ambassador for Wild Welfare, where I support their projects, improving the lives of animals in human care and highlight the great work of the charity. I am also a fundraising specialist for the Sussex Dolphin Project, where I write grants and facilitate partnerships to raise vital funds for the organisations work protecting cetaceans along the Sussex coast.  

Did you need any qualifications?

Even though I did a university degree, which was extremely helpful I found it was my volunteering experience that ultimately landed me my first zookeeping job. It was the willingness to continue to learn and progress that propelled me through my animal management career and networking that opened doors into other roles such as journalism, consultancy and wildlife tour guiding.

Any tips for a young person that wants to do what you do?

Try everything and speak to everyone! Utilise any opportunity to learn a new skill, gain additional knowledge or meet new people. I certainly took advantage of going to conferences and internship placements whilst zookeeping which gave me some of the skills I use regularly today. 

Remember to shout about your triumphs and projects you are involved with, as you never know who will see it and open a door for you. 

What is the best part of what you do?

Visiting the conservation projects, I work with and seeing the difference my training and support is making to the staff and animals is always fantastic but It is equally exciting to see a student or child become connected with nature after going on a tour or reading a magazine article or book I have written. 

What is the worst part of what you do?

As with any career things can go wrong, so its always hard when an idea doesn’t work, an introduction fails, or you have to say goodbye to an animal you have cared for. Although, like with any challenge it gives you an opportunity to learn from those events and become a better version of yourself.

What is your favourite animal?

A gorilla! Absolutely no question. They are incredible animals, so strong and powerful yet soft and gentle. To sit with a gorilla who has accepted you as part of their troop (or at least tolerates you being there : D) is a magical thing. They also sing when they are eating foods that they really love which is the best sound!

What was the first animal that you fell in love with?

A tapir. I started full time work on the hoofstock section and there was a tapir called Ryan that I absolutely adored. He was super friendly and would follow you around the paddock wanting scratches when you were trying to clean. 

What is your favourite place in nature?

Growing up on the coast and living in Australia and New Zealand for many years I have an infinite love of the sea. I love nothing more than to be out on the boat, scuba diving or just chilling on the beach.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to go for walks with my partner and two children. They love exploring as much as I do so we often find new wild places to discover on the weekends and regularly take the kids with us when we travel for work. 

If you were not doing what you do now what else would you love to do?

I love travelling and discovering wild places around the world so perhaps a nature guide or travel blogger.

Who inspires you?

Of course, anyone who works in wildlife is inspired by the likes of Jane Goodall, David Attenborough and Gordon Buchanon, but for me it is the people who inspire you in your daily life that are the most influential. I have worked under some amazing wildlife people who have mentored me along the way, and I couldn’t have gotten to where I am now without them. It also helps having an amazingly supportive family who will follow you on crazy adventures!

What are your hopes for the future? 

I hope that humanity can find away to coexist with the natural earth to allow nature to thrive for generations to come. But personally, I would like to become more involved with conservation, working with even more projects to support their needs and help them achieve their conservation outcomes.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about?

You will only regret the things you don’t do, so don’t be afraid to take risks! The number of times I have left jobs I’ve been settled in, moved countries, used my own funds, pushed doubts aside to grab hold of opportunities and I have never once regretted it, but know I would have regretted playing it safe and missing that opportunity to gain knowledge, skills, experience and to progress. 

Where can people find you? 

https://greatapeconsultancy.com/

https://lorrainemillerauthor.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorraine-louise-miller/

https://www.facebook.com/greatapeconsultancy/

https://www.facebook.com/LorraineMillerAuthor