A detail-oriented and analytical One Health Specialist with more than 5 years of experience while performing Public Health promotion and Wildlife conservation with related tasks working with both government and non-governmental institutions.

I am Somoye Olawale John, a dedicated wildlife management professional with over a decade of experience in the field. My journey in wildlife conservation began with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Applied Zoology from Olabisi Onabanjo University, where I developed a deep interest in the intricate dynamics of animal populations and their ecosystems. This passion led me to pursue a Master of Wildlife Management from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). Currently, I serve as the Principal Zoo Curator at FUNAAB Zoo Park, a role I have held since 2021. In this capacity, I oversee animal husbandry standards, museum keeping, and taxidermy, as well as the construction and maintenance of zoo facilities. My responsibilities also include research, training, and mentoring students, capturing and restraining zoo animals, and administering care and treatment to the animals. Before this role, I was the Zoo Curator, where I gained extensive experience in animal care, facility maintenance, and visitor engagement. My professional interests lie in wildlife ecology, with a particular focus on primate population dynamics and foraging behavior. I have contributed to several research projects and publications, including studies on ectoparasites of domestic dogs and antimicrobial resistance in non-human primates. I am an active member of several professional bodies, including the Nigeria Society for Environmental Conservation (NSEC), Wildlife Management Society of Nigeria (WISON), Nigeria Association of Zoo Gardens and Parks (NAZAP), and the Zoological Society of Nigeria (ZSN). These affiliations keep me connected with the latest developments and best practices in wildlife conservation and management. In my free time, I enjoy reading, meeting new people, and playing chess. I am excited to be a part of the WildHub community and look forward to exchanging knowledge, ideas, and experiences with fellow conservation enthusiasts.

My background is mainly in species conservation, education and capacity exchange. I researched mother-young interactions in gorillas and chimpanzees, in captivity and the wild. After that, I worked for three years in Indonesia, where I developed and implemented youth ambassador and community engagement programmes on local and regional scales. I co-founded WildHub, a community of nature conservation professionals, in 2020 and work as their Community Lead. I am furthermore on the Advisory Board of the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent where I obtained my PhD on capacity development for conservation in 2022.