Wildlife biologist / conservation NGO
WII, WWF, WCS
- Remote
- Varies
- Qualification
- Typically B.Sc Forestry / Horticulture.
- Read
- 1 min
What the work involves
Day to day
Studying wildlife populations and habitats and working to protect them - field surveys, camera trapping, data analysis, human-wildlife conflict mitigation and advising on management and policy.
Who this suits
Fit
Scientifically rigorous people who genuinely want to live in the field. India's biodiversity and its conservation challenges are globally significant, and good field ecologists are few.
The honest reality
Read this one
Very few permanent posts exist and most work is grant-funded on short contracts with modest pay - people in this field commonly string together projects for a decade. A master's is the minimum and a doctorate is expected for research leadership. Fieldwork means extended isolation in remote areas with basic facilities and some physical risk. Conservation frequently collides with local livelihoods and political interests, and losing those arguments is a normal part of the job. It attracts far more applicants than it can employ, and the romance of it does not survive the first field season.
How you get there
Step by step
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2 years Step 1Finish school
Class 12 with Biology, Agriculture or PCM
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3 years Step 2Qualify
Complete B.Sc Forestry / Horticulture.
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Step 3Enter the field
Typical first position: Wildlife biologist / conservation NGO.
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Step 4Build and specialise Optional
Scale the enterprise, or move into a senior government or corporate post.
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You are hereWildlife biologist / conservation NGO
Everything above leads here. The steps marked optional can be skipped or taken later — they change how fast you arrive, not whether you can.
Courses that lead here
How to qualify
Exams on the way
Admission and qualifying
Roles within this career
What the job is called