THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
MARCH 19, 1999
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THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA |
by Mike McNeney
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UVic biology graduate student Patrick Garcia will experience the culmination of a life-long dream to help save endangered wildlife when he leaves in April to begin up to a year of study and field experience with the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust (WPT). The organization was established by the late conservationist Gerald Durrell, whose television programs, along with those of David Attenborough, left a lasting impression on Garcia when he was growing up in London, England and Calgary. "Seeing the work that they did &emdash; and at a level that, as a kid, I could understand &emdash; really turned me on to nature and wildlife. Looking back now, I view those people as huge influences," says Garcia. "I would like to have that role. I think its really important that I share my enthusiasm and experience for conservation and biology with others." Garcia was selected this year's Canadian participant in the Jersey program by the Guelph-based Wildlife Preservation Trust Canada, the WPT's Canadian arm. As the "1999 Canadian New Noah," Garcia receives a full scholarship that includes a three-month diploma training program at the Jersey Zoo to learn captive breeding and husbandry techniques for endangered species. "I've known about this group for as long as I can remember and I was always interested in the kind of work they do," he says. From Jersey, Garcia will be sent to the |
 Garcia island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean where he'll be involved in long-established programs to save some of the most critically threatened species on the planet. He'll be conducting field studies and assisting with re-introductions of, for example, the Echo parakeet, whose numbers have dwindled to about two dozen. Sixteen of the island's 25 endemic species have become extinct due to habitat loss, pesticides, natural events, or introduced predators such as rats, cats and mongooses. |
Hundreds of young Canadian scientists apply for the scholarship each year and this was the second time Garcia had been interviewed. In the six years since his first interview, he's honed skills in research, field studies, teaching and public speaking. Through the UVic Speakers Bureau, he's given 30 presentations to schools and community groups describing his work with toads, bats, birds and primates. "After I've given a talk, the level of enthusiasm I've received makes me realize that people really are interested in science and conservation," Garcia says. "If we [scientists] can share our results with them and make them accessible, that's half the battle. It's really important to share what we do with the community." In addition to his academic and community work, Garcia has travelled to Asia, Africa, Mexico and Europe. "Patrick has shown a keen interest in exploring the world and has demonstrated that he's learned a lot from his travels," says Elaine Williams, executive director of WPT Canada. "He appreciates the significance that if we're going to make any headway for endangered species, we have to bring the general public on side and educate them." Garcia plans to return to UVic to complete his master's degree before veterinary school and a career as a wildlife veterinarian/conservation biologist. |