Simon Pynt
Simon Pynt
Like most nature and wildlife professionals I was bitten by the ‘bug’ at a young age. Though I never consciously specialised in any particular group of fauna, during my final year of uni (Sci. maj Zoology, UWA, 2006) I was competent enough with reptiles and amphibians to get work as a field herpetologist. Back then when asked what I did for work I proudly boasted “I get paid to do what I used to pay to do.” 15 years later and like most of my colleagues who spend between 2 and 6 months each year in the field I’ve become passionate and proficient across most vertebrate and invertebrate taxa in Western Australia.
I’m happiest staring into the bottom of a sieve tray like
I’m waiting for a 3-D magic eye image to reveal itself (searching for tiny,
short range endemic invertebrates), sniffing an unknown scat… or lining up a
camera trap projecting the path of a Northern Quoll as it forages amongst rocky
breakaway country in the Pilbara. I have thoroughly enjoyed the past 2 years working at
Phoenix, with ever busier field rosters and the support of mentors with
decades of experience, I am looking forward to the next few years.