Welcome to the website of Siobhan Speiran, M.A.! |
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About me
I joined The Lives of Animals Research Group as a PhD student in Environmental Studies at Queen’s University in September 2017. I obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology and English (Hons.), as well as a Master’s in English Literature from the University of Guelph. My Master’s research used post-colonial and post-humanist theory to probe de-/re-constructions of femininity in hyper-masculine and science fiction film. My doctoral work explores the lives of monkeys in Costa Rican sanctuaries, with respect to their rehabilitation and care, as well as how tourists and community members perceive sanctuaries and primate conservation. A leading wildlife tourism destination, Costa Rica is known for its magnificent landscapes which contain 6% of the world’s biodiversity. Despite the country’s ‘green’ reputation, their monkey populations are at risk; deforestation, electrocution, road collisions, conflict with humans/non-humans, illegal wildlife trade, and more account for their decline. My research recognizes that, while animals are integral to wildlife tourism, most scholarship does not focus on their lives. My work addresses the call for interdisciplinary in tourism research by drawing on animal welfare, conservation, tourism and animal studies to understand the entangled lives of monkeys and humans, and what a ‘good life’ looks like for a monkey in a sanctuary. My PhD research is generously supported by a SSHRC Joseph-Armand Bombardier Doctoral Scholarship. For research updates, visit my Instagram and Research Gate.
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