Liz Baker
Gorilla Caregiver / Research Assistant
Since she was a child Liz has recognized that we humans are just one of many types of animals, and has been fascinated with the behavior of all animals ever since. This fascination of all animals turned in to passion when Liz began conducting her own research projects observing apes at the age of thirteen. Not only did she learn that primates were like humans in an amazing number of ways, but she found that even an eighth grader could make a scientific discovery. Fortunately, The Jane Goodall Institute's ChimpanZoo recognized this passion and fostered it by making Liz their first ever Junior Intern. Inevitably, as she began to learn more about primates, Liz learned how little some humans knew, or cared, about how our closest cousins are treated around the world. It became clear to her that only through education could people begin to understand, and only after understanding, could they care.
The drive to discover more, and educate the public about primates lead Liz to a BS in Psychology with a Minor in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from the University of Arizona, and then an MS in Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology at the University of St Andrews. She focused on communication and culture, because she has always felt primates are saying a lot more to each other that we humans know.
Liz hopes to continue the amazing research that The Gorilla Foundation is known for by investigating the incredible behaviors Koko and Ndume display on a daily basis. Liz believes that the more humans know about Gorillas, and all of the Great Apes, the harder it will be for them to ignore their plight. TGF's mission statement, Conservation through Communication, could not be closer to her heart.
|
