Robin Fiore

Robin’s interests have always been with both anthropology and zoology. As an undergraduate she conducted a meta-analysis of grieving behavior in non-human primates. Inspired by a long history of volunteers work in zoos, she wanted to connect a human experience to our closest evolutionary ancestors. Robin graduated with an MA from the University of Colorado in 2015. For her MA she conducted a survey of Indochinese silvered langurs on Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam. Inspired to study silvered langurs from experiences caring for the species in zoos, she wanted to contribute to the body of knowledge used to conserve these animals in the wild. After her MA, Robin left academia to pursue a career in conservation education. For four years Robin worked as a conservation educator at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Leading guests on adventure tours through the Africa section of the zoo inspired Robin to learn more about the threats facing African fauna and how a human dimension can be introduced to help preserve the unique environment and biodiversity of East Africa.

Robin is currently working on a PhD in Anthrozoology focusing on human wildlife conflict in Kenya. The goal of her research is to understand how malignant catarrhal fever passed from wild wildebeest to domestic cattle creates conflict between wildlife and local Maasai and how that conflict might be mitigated for the benefit of both local livelihoods and conservation. Through interviews with conservationists and local Maasai, Robin hopes to find new ways of bringing local people and conservation together for the benefit of both the animals and the people who live in close proximity to them.