Gwyn Rhys Cooper

Dedicated conservation professional with extensive voluntary experience in wildlife management, animal welfare, and ecosystem preservation across the UK and internationally. Certified in biosciences with hands-on expertise in habitat management, species identification, and animal care. Seeking to leverage conservation knowledge and technical skills in a professional capacity.

Trainee Reserve Officer - Cornish Wildlife Trust - Cornwall, UK

(2024-11 - 2025-11)

Learning-focused role in countryside management and conservation with responsibilities for maintaining reserves and sites, including SSIs. Gained certifications in specialized equipment operation.

• Countryside management and maintenance of different reserves and sights both open and closed to the public
• Conservation of flora and fauna including for sites which were SSIs
• Public engagement activities
• Gained three tickets for Brushcutting, Pesticides and Chainsaws

Hotel Porter, Bar Staff, Waiter, Barista - Imperial Hotel - Barnstaple, UK

Six months as Hotel Porter with experience in customer service and luggage handling. Additional duties included bar work, catering, and event preparation.

• Hotel Porter with customer service and transportation of luggage
• Bar experience including making cocktails, pulling pints and making canapés
• Waiting tables and barista experience
• Laying table cloths and preparing for functions such as wedding receptions and wakes

Food Runner, Kitchen Porter - The Pig On the Beach Westward Ho / The Waterfront Westward Ho - Westward Ho, UK

Food service and kitchen preparation roles in hospitality venues.

• Food runner and kitchen porter at The Pig On the Beach Westward Ho
• Kitchen porter at The Waterfront in Westward Ho

Assistant - Fibre-glassing shop

First job involving repair and construction of fiberglass boats.

• Repairing and building of fiberglass boats using resin

Electrician's Assistant - Coops Electrical

Electrical work requiring specialist terminology and technical knowledge.

• Specialist terminology for differing tools and items required to rewire and repair electricals

Laboratory Assistant - Ilfracombe Academy - Ilfracombe, UK

Two-week laboratory placement during work experience.

• Preparation of lab equipment
• Preparation of differing chemical compounds
• Fulfilling requests for specific scientific apparatus

Volunteer - Grupo Lobo Portugal - Malveira, Portugal

(2023-10 - 2023-11)

One-month volunteer placement working with Iberian wolves in a sanctuary, including animal care, behavioral observation and habitat management.

• Feeding wolves involving butchering meat and throwing into enclosures
• Making enrichment activities for wolves
• Observing wolves for stress behavior analysis, particularly those kept as illegal pets
• Statistical analysis of behavioral data
• Trail camera setup and footage recording
• General forest and habitat management

Volunteer - Esperanza Verde Peru - Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, Peru

Four-month volunteer placement in animal welfare and conservation. Responsibilities included animal care, feeding, enrichment, and as an experienced volunteer, training new volunteers and managing operations.

• Cleaning and feeding duties for diverse species including monkeys, birds, Agoutis, Capybara, River Turtles, Macaws, parrots, sloths, Capuchins, Ocelots, Jaguarundi, Squirrel monkeys and Tortoises
• Releasing animals back to the wild
• Providing enrichment for juvenile Giant Amazon River Otter including walking, swimming facilitation and safe feeding
• Management and care of Linnaeus two toed sloth including walking, enrichment climbing, cage enrichment and feeding with foraged edible plants
• Working in clinic setting cleaning cages and providing medicine such as vitamin mixtures to monkey species
• Using microscope to detect parasites through faecal sample analysis
• Teaching new volunteers on animal interaction and work procedures
• Leadership in managing food preparation in the animal kitchen (bodega)

Volunteer - Wild Futures - Looe, UK

(2023-08-17 - 2023-08-31)

Two-week volunteer placement at Looe Monkey Sanctuary gaining hands-on experience with primate care, enrichment, and conservation. Contact: Stefano_Sorrentino@wildfutures.org

• Working with Capuchin Monkeys and Woolly Monkeys
• Feeding and setting up food bowls
• Making enrichment activities for primates to solve and interact with
• Public speaking engagements
• Cleaning out monkey enclosures
• Learning about conservation of primates
• Preparing and darting small primates
• Learning about medical needs for primates from illegal pet trade with diabetes
• Preparing medication and making meals for dietary requirements

Volunteer - National Trust - Dunsland Park and Peppercombe, UK

(2019-08 - 2019-08)

August 2019 volunteering with National Trust rangers on horticultural and habitat management tasks.

• Pruning orchards at Dunsland Park to promote fruiting
• Weeding and mulching with rangers Greg Wilson
• Fence laying at Peppercombe
• Scything at Peppercombe

Volunteer - RSPB - Rathlin Island, UK

Volunteering at sea bird sanctuary with public-facing duties and equipment maintenance.

• Public facing volunteering engaging with public and tourism
• Answering questions relating to local fauna specifically sea birds
• Maintenance of observational equipment such as telescopes and binoculars
• Learning to identify different species of sea birds through physiological characteristics

Volunteer - Torrington Commons - Torrington, UK

(2019-07 - 2019-07)

July 2019 habitat management and species monitoring.

• Removal of Himalayan Balsam
• Verge clearing
• Mapping of otter spraints

Volunteer - Northam Burrows County Park - Northam Burrows, UK

(2018-09)

Ongoing volunteer work since September 2018 with park ranger Michael Day on habitat management and species monitoring.

• Surveying Water Hyacinth and Field Mice nests
• Participating in rake and burn events
• Other maintenance tasks

Student Volunteer - University of Plymouth - UPSU Plymouth Green Team - Plymouth, UK

(2021-10 - 2021-11)

Student-led volunteering with Plymouth Green team in 2021.

• Clearing brambles from Sandplace station and planting various plants 2/10/21 (4 hours)
• Bramble clearing for Plymouth YMCA 4/11/21 (4 hours)

Science Promoter and Educator - Bideford College - Bideford, UK

Science outreach and promotion activities.

• Promoted Bideford College sixth form during open evenings
• Participated in 'Get set for Bideford' event providing 6 sessions of science activities to year 5 students

Society Member - University of Plymouth - Plymouth, UK

(2022)

Active membership in university conservation and recreation societies.

• Member of Wildlife and Ecology Society
• Member of Marine Biology Society
• Member of Biology Society
• Member of Surf Club

Member - Devon Birds - North Devon, UK

Current member of Devon Birds with ongoing training for Bird Ringing membership.

Member - RSPB and British Ornithology Trust - UK

Member of both Devon RSPB and The British Ornithology Trust.

Certificate of Higher Education - Biosciences - University of Plymouth (2023)

A Level - Psychology

Extended Certificate Level 3 - BTEC Applied Science

GCSE - English Literature

GCSE - English Language

GCSE - Science

GCSE - Spanish

GCSE - History

GCSE - Maths