Our Team | Staff Member

Gráinne Hartigan

Gráinne Hartigan is a zoologist and educator with extensive experience in animal-based roles, who now contributes to wildlife conservation through Nature’s SAFE’s pioneering living biobank while also building collaborative relationships within the zoo community.

About Gráinne

Grainne’s background is in Zoology and Education, and she has had the privilege of gaining experience in a variety of animal-based roles, including placements at Chester Zoo, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, and as Learning Manager at Marwell Zoo. Alongside these roles, she is also a qualified teacher with almost 20 years of experience sharing her passion for the natural world, and supporting future professionals, as a teacher of Biology, Ecology, and Animal Management.

Her love for nature, and animals in particular, has been with her from a very young age. She spent countless hours engrossed in nature documentaries or getting very soggy exploring the great outdoors of her childhood home in Ireland. Grainne earned her undergraduate degree in Zoology from the University of Liverpool. She has built her knowledge and skills through involvement in various projects, both in the UK and abroad, focusing on species monitoring, ecology, and wildlife conservation.

Over the years Grainne has witnessed firsthand some of the severe threats facing nature today, including habitat loss, poaching, and the over-exploitation of natural resources. She feels incredibly privileged to contribute to the safeguarding of some of our most precious species. Grainne is helping to ensure these majestic animals will be conserved for future generations through Nature’s SAFE’s pioneering living biobank.

Grainne is looking forward to using her background and passion to build collaborative relationships within the zoo community and beyond.

Who we are

Our work would not be possible without our incredible team

Okapi

Total Population: Less than 25,000 in the wild

Pygmy marmoset

Total Population: Unknown

Hyacinth macaw

Total Population: Around 6,500 in the wild

Mandanao bleeding-heart dove

Total Population: Less than 2,500 in the wild

Little egret

Total Population: 660,000 to 3,150,000 in the wild

Bactrian camel

Total Population: Less than 1,000 in the wild

Chimpanzee

Total Population: 170,000 - 300, 000 in the wild

Eurasian Red Squirrel

Total Population: 120,000 to 160,000 in the wild

Fea’s tree frog

Total Population: Unknown

Spix’s night monkey

Total Population: Unknown

how to help

For many species, it’s now or never.

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Red-footed tortoise

Total Population: Unknown

Capybara

Total Population: Unknown

African wild dog

Total Population: Around 6,600 in the wild

Hamerkop

Total Population: Unknown

Lesser Madagascan tenrec

Total Population: Unknown

Nile Lechwe

Total Population: 30,000 - 40,000 in the wild

Mandarin duck

Total Population: Around 65,000 in the wild

Asiatic Lion

Total Population: Around 650 in the wild

Mandrill

Total Population: Unknown

South American fur seal

Total Population: Around 200,000 in the wild