Dr Pirie graduated as a Zoologist from the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, taking up a role as a zookeeper working with a wide range of species from across the globe, including Sumatran and Amur tigers, White Rhino, various lemur and kangaroo species. However, she was keen to observe animals in the wild, so she moved to South Africa to train and work as a safari guide. Working in the stunning Waterberg and the world-famous Sabi Sands, in the Greater Kruger National Park, Tara interpreted all aspects of the African bush from animal and plant ecology to geology and astronomy for safari guests and later as a presenter to viewers of Safari TV on WildEarth during live broadcasts. 

While running a volunteer and research camp for Ingwe Leopard Research, Tara completed her PhD on leopard and carnivore ecology, wildlife conflict, and conservation with the University of Reading. She later returned to the UK for a postdoctoral position at the University to investigate domestic cat ranging and hunting behaviour. During her time there, Tara also became assistant curator for the Cole Museum of Zoology, helping with the enormous task of redesigning and moving the Natural History Museum to its new location. Having taught and supported students in the role, Tara took up a lectureship at the University of Surrey, teaching ecology, conservation and sustainability, during which her work included promoting biodiversity on campus and the use of GenAI by students.  However, animal behaviour has always been a core passion of Tara's. She is very excited to take up the lectureship in animal behaviour at the University of Chester and looks forward to exploring potential research opportunities as a founding director of the South African-based NPO Ingwe Research Program.