“My strength lies in telling relatable stories”
Tani Gill loves teaching people about her favourite animal – the Asian elephant – at her local museum
Alongside running her own dance business, Tani Gill enjoys engaging visitors with the collection at her local zoology museum in Cambridge.
Where do you volunteer?
I am a visitor engagement volunteer at the David Attenborough Building at the Museum of Zoology, Cambridge University. We are encouraged to choose and specialise in discussing our favourite animal, which for me is the Asian elephant. Recently
I have been involved with the Discover Incredible Insects at Trumpington Meadows Museum Of Zoology events. We showed members of the public an exciting range of insects – my personal favourite was the sphinx moth.
Why do you volunteer?
To answer this, I need to go back to my childhood. My father worked for a tea company in India, and one time during the monsoon season, when I was eight, we saw a large herd of Asian elephants around a drain. When we got close, we found that a calf had fallen in and was stuck. The workers were able to put ropes around the calf and gently pull it out. From a safe distance, we all watched as the herd then checked over the calf. As they started leaving, the main ‘tusker’ turned towards us and trumpeted with his trunk held high. It was clear that he was thanking us, and the whole herd then trumpeted too. Since then, I’ve been passionate about elephants and their conservation.
My strength lies in telling stories that are relatable and relevant, whether it comes in the form of classical dance, art or volunteer work. I do not have an academic background in zoology, but I have always had a keen interest in conservation.
What is your proudest moment during your time volunteering?
My son Veer asked if he could volunteer at the Museum of Zoology in Cambridge. He is a history buff, with a vast knowledge of anthropology and sociology. The highlight was when a five-year-old boy told Veer that when he grew up he wanted to volunteer just like him. Watching a crowd of parents and children completely absorbed in Veer’s knowledge of the natural world was definitely a proud moment for me.