Tara Clarke
Bio
Tara Clarke is a Lecturer and an Undergraduate Academic Advisor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at North Carolina State University. She is an invited member of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, Section for Human-Primate Interactions and has been conducting research and conservation initiatives in Madagascar for the past sixteen years. Tara serves as the Chief Primate Conservationist and the Director of Special Projects for two U.S.-based non-profit organizations, Darwin Animal Doctors and the Mad Dog Initiative, respectively. In addition, she serves as a Representative for the Animal Issues Theme Cluster (AITC) for the United Nations NGO Major Group. Tara’s research aims to understand the motivations driving the illegal pet trade of lemurs within Madagascar. This work employs a multi-disciplinary approach, including conservation genetics, formal and informal surveys with local communities, collaborations with local and international NGO’s, as well as conservation outreach and education initiatives.