Jonno Mattimoe
Hi I’m Jonno I am 24 and come from Sutton Coldfield, England. Currently I am working for the AWF on an EU funded placement conducting research into Whales collating data whilst travelling on Whale watching boats in Tenerife. Another element of my work is that a project researching into one of my favourite species the Wolf.
Why my interest in wildlife well there are several reasons. As a child I was obsessed with nature and spent many hours impressing my grandmother by being able to identify virtually every British Bird from pictures. I was always encouraged by my parents to follow nature and this involved many walks round Sutton Park, incidentally this is one of the largest urban parks in Europe and within a mile of my home, where I could observe wildlife in its natural habitat. Many National Trust properties were visited in my youth where often the breeding and protection of rare breeds was witnessed. With the ancestry on my father’s side being Irish farming the majority of my summer holidays from child to teenager were spent on family farms where I could get close to farm animals. I have always watched wildlife documentaries mainly those narrated by David Attenborough and his enthusiasm has spurred me to see as much of the world and its nature as possible.
After leaving school being educated to ‘A’ level standard I took a job in a warehouse which seemed great at the time as it was new to me but after many years it became brain numbing and I decided this was not the career path for me. I then made the decision to further my education and follow a University course in Wildlife Biology which resulted in a degree.
Two of the highlights of my studies were trips abroad. Firstly to Madeira where research was made on the Fauna and many other species endemic to that Island. Secondly to Tanzania looking at various protected species around the National Parks (eg African Wild Dogs, Lions and Black Rhinos) which have become vulnerable due to poaching, disease and loss of habitat to find ways to ensure future survival of these species.
Since joining the AWF I have made many friendships and gained valuable entrepreneur skills as well as extended knowledge in many different subjects such as conservation, data recording and fundraising.
