Animal care and welfare play a critical role in conservation because protecting wildlife is not only about saving species from extinction, but it is also about making sure that individual animals are healthy and able to thrive in their environments. Proper conservation recognizes that the well-being of animals directly influences population stability and ecosystem health. When animals are stressed, injured, or kept in poor conditions during research, rehabilitation, or captive breeding, their survival and reproductive ability can decline, which can affect conservation efforts. By prioritizing comfort and welfare, conservationists create conditions that allow animals to contribute to the recovery and stability of their species. One area where animal welfare crosses with conservation is in research and monitoring. Scientists often need to study wildlife populations to understand trends, threats, and behavior. However, research methods can sometimes disturb animals and alter their natural behaviors. In recent years, conservation science has increasingly moved to noninvasive approaches that minimize stress while still providing reliable data. For example, acoustic monitoring has become an important tool for studying animals that rely heavily on sound, such as bats and marine mammals. Researchers can collect information on species presence, activity patterns, and population trends without capturing or physically working with the animals. This approach improves both the welfare of the animals and the quality of the data collected, since animals behave more naturally when they are undisturbed. Animal welfare is also essential in rehabilitation and conservation programs. Wildlife rehabilitation centers care for injured animals with the goal of eventually returning them to the wild. In these cases, proper nutrition, medical treatment, housing, and environmental enrichment all influence whether an animal will successfully recover and survive after release. Similarly, captive breeding programs for endangered species must focus on reducing stress and encouraging natural behaviors so that individuals can reproduce and adapt if reintroduced into wild populations. When welfare standards are high, conservation programs are more likely to succeed and keep ethical responsibility toward the animals they aim to protect. As a pre-veterinary student at the University of New Hampshire, I envision contributing to conservation by combining research, animal health, and welfare-centered practices. My academic and research experiences have strengthened my interest in understanding how animals interact with their environments and how scientific methods can be used to protect them. I am particularly interested in research that allows scientists to watch wildlife populations while minimizing harm or disruption. Noninvasive monitoring techniques, such as acoustic data collection and behavioral analysis, can help conservationists understand species without compromising animal welfare. In the future, I hope to pursue a career that connects veterinary medicine with conservation research. Veterinarians play a vital role in wildlife conservation by supporting animal health in rehabilitation programs, advising on humane research practices, and contributing to the management of endangered species. By applying veterinary knowledge to conservation challenges, I would be able to help ensure that both individual animals and entire populations are protected. Conservation is most effective when it balances scientific goals with compassion and respect for animal life. By prioritizing welfare alongside ecological research, conservationists can develop strategies that support healthy wildlife populations and sustainable ecosystems. I am motivated to be part of this effort by advancing research methods, promoting ethical care, and working toward solutions that help both animals and the environments they depend on.

After graduation, I plan to continue my education in veterinary sciences, and hopefully end up as a veterinarian! I am currently a pre-vet molecular biology major, but am making the transition to a biomedical sciences and zoology double major. I am extremely passionate about both medicine and animals, making this the perfect crossover. I plan to dedicate my life to learning about animals, helping them, and being the voice for those who don't have one.