From Trent to Saving Tigers in Thailand
Trent alum Eric Ash '06 followed his conservation passion around the world
Meet alumnus Eric Ash’06, training and reporting officer and surviving together team leader for Freeland, a non-profit agency headquartered out of Bangkok, Thailand which is working to counter human and wildlife trafficking.
Today, Mr. Ash is leading a large camera trap survey of Indochinese tigers in Eastern Thailand, the last refuge for the country’s wild tigers, which may number fewer than 200 individuals.
“Part of my job involves setting remote camera traps deep in the forest to monitor and learn more about the tiger populations,” Mr. Ash explains. “It is humbling to walk through these areas knowing that a wild tiger may be watching you, just out of sight.”
A graduate of Trent’s Environmental Studies program, Mr. Ash chose Trent for “the opportunities to interact directly with professors” and because of his affinity for nature. ”I was impressed by the beautiful campus and its surrounding natural areas,” he recalls.
Interestingly, Mr. Ash’s passion for tigers, which he says, ultimately led him to attend Trent, was inspired by fellow Trent alumnus Yann Martel’s novel Life of Pi, a story about a young man lost at sea in a lifeboat with a tiger.
Mr. Ash credits his Trent experience for his amazing career, saying: “A key part of my learning experience was my year abroad. This allowed me to explore my interests in Environmental Studies in Thailand and Indonesia, which included a placement with a major environmental NGO.”
Mr. Ash confirms that this hands-on experience was invaluable and gave him important insight into international conservation issues. In fact, it was during this experience that Mr. Ash met his future employer at Freeland.
“Whether your degree is in Environmental Studies, Marketing, or Economics, you can choose to shape your career into one that helps rather than hurts conservation. Tigers and other endangered species need comprehensive solutions from all sectors of society. Anyone can make a difference, you just have to make the choice to get involved.”
Follow Mr. Ash’s team and learn more about the amazing work being accomplished by Freeland. Mr. Ash’s team is always looking for enthusiastic and passionate people to intern with Freeland, and he invites Trent students to reach out if they would like to learn more, or get involved.