My name is Rebecca (or Becca!) Smith and I am originally from Edinburgh Scotland. I obtained my undergraduate degree in Zoology from the University of Edinburgh and later a Masters of Research in Primate Biology, Behaviour and Conservation from Roehampton University. Since 2016 I have been studying towards a PhD in Conservation Science with the University of Aberdeen.
In 2008 when I was 19 years old I packed my bags and flew to Namibia to volunteer at N/a'an Ku Sê wildlife foundation. I spent half my time working at the sanctuary and half my time tracking radio collared cheetahs - my first introduction to fieldwork. I never looked back! I returned the following year and after I had graduated from my undergrad I went back to work as a volunteer coordinator. For my masters research I studied rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico before heading to Panama to work in the rehabilitation of orphan mantled howler monkeys.
In January 2013 I moved to Paraguay to join Fundación Para La Tierra to run the primate project. The capuchins stole my heart and I have been here ever since.
In 2016 I received the Lawrence Jacobsen Education Development Award from the International Primatological Society and in 2018 I became is a National Geographic Explorer. My main research focus is determining the ecological requirements of the Hooded Capuchin in the Paraguayan Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest in order to create an evidence based conservation action plan to guarantee their survival. In addition to this I also carry out environmental education in rural schools bordering San Rafael National Park and supervise international interns in their studied of urban Black-&-Gold howler monkeys in Pilar.
