She earned a Ph.D. from the University of Victoria. Tara is a member of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group Member and has been working in Madagascar for over ten-years. She is the Director of Outreach for Lemur Love, Inc. (www.lemurlove.org), a U.S. registered 501(c)(3). Tara’s research examines the impacts of habitat fragmentation and isolation on the genetic health of ring-tailed lemurs. Most recently, her work 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. ​