Chris Banotai, PhD
@seacow.bsky.social
PhD wildlife ecologist: elephant impact on woody veg, savanna ecology, and marula decline. Also interested in old-school hockey, lifting weights, photography, and the outdoors.
While 2025 wasn't great in many, many ways, *gestures broadly*, it was a big year for me personally.
Tonight, I'm ringing in the new year surrounded by good friends and family and jammin' to the best tunes.
I hope you can find peace and relaxation as we roll through this transition period!
Tonight, I'm ringing in the new year surrounded by good friends and family and jammin' to the best tunes.
I hope you can find peace and relaxation as we roll through this transition period!
December 31, 2025 at 3:18 PM
While 2025 wasn't great in many, many ways, *gestures broadly*, it was a big year for me personally.
Tonight, I'm ringing in the new year surrounded by good friends and family and jammin' to the best tunes.
I hope you can find peace and relaxation as we roll through this transition period!
Tonight, I'm ringing in the new year surrounded by good friends and family and jammin' to the best tunes.
I hope you can find peace and relaxation as we roll through this transition period!
Reposted by Chris Banotai, PhD
This has been a tough year for early career scientists including grad students.
If you had a professional success this year, no matter how small, share it with us so we can celebrate with you!
🧪
If you had a professional success this year, no matter how small, share it with us so we can celebrate with you!
🧪
December 30, 2025 at 3:44 PM
This has been a tough year for early career scientists including grad students.
If you had a professional success this year, no matter how small, share it with us so we can celebrate with you!
🧪
If you had a professional success this year, no matter how small, share it with us so we can celebrate with you!
🧪
What were some of your favorite moments of 2025 or things you're grateful happened in 2025?
-I finally finished my PhD
-moving back home allowed me to reconnect with old friends and reconnect those old friends.
-I've been able to spend lots of time with my niece
2025 wasn't great, but we tried.
-I finally finished my PhD
-moving back home allowed me to reconnect with old friends and reconnect those old friends.
-I've been able to spend lots of time with my niece
2025 wasn't great, but we tried.
December 29, 2025 at 4:48 PM
What were some of your favorite moments of 2025 or things you're grateful happened in 2025?
-I finally finished my PhD
-moving back home allowed me to reconnect with old friends and reconnect those old friends.
-I've been able to spend lots of time with my niece
2025 wasn't great, but we tried.
-I finally finished my PhD
-moving back home allowed me to reconnect with old friends and reconnect those old friends.
-I've been able to spend lots of time with my niece
2025 wasn't great, but we tried.
My favorite #wildlife encounter of 2025: mom and adolescent young grizzly bear in #YellowstoneNationalPark.
#photography
#wildlifephotography
#grizzlybear
#Yellowstone
#photography
#wildlifephotography
#grizzlybear
#Yellowstone
December 29, 2025 at 4:22 PM
My favorite #wildlife encounter of 2025: mom and adolescent young grizzly bear in #YellowstoneNationalPark.
#photography
#wildlifephotography
#grizzlybear
#Yellowstone
#photography
#wildlifephotography
#grizzlybear
#Yellowstone
My top shot of 2025: taken in #GrandTetonNationalPark
#photography
#landscapephotography
#mountains
#Tetons
#photography
#landscapephotography
#mountains
#Tetons
December 29, 2025 at 4:15 PM
My top shot of 2025: taken in #GrandTetonNationalPark
#photography
#landscapephotography
#mountains
#Tetons
#photography
#landscapephotography
#mountains
#Tetons
The real date is in a few days, but today.. is Chris' Birthday Boy Bash and Party Pallooza!
December 27, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The real date is in a few days, but today.. is Chris' Birthday Boy Bash and Party Pallooza!
Vibes.
a close up of a white cat with its mouth wide open
ALT: a close up of a white cat with its mouth wide open
media.tenor.com
December 26, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Vibes.
Reposted by Chris Banotai, PhD
Christmas walk in the woods. 🌲❄️
December 25, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Christmas walk in the woods. 🌲❄️
My instagram algorithm has been infiltrated by people who've recorded themselves crying.
I do not like this.
I do not like this.
a cartoon character is standing in the desert and says `` you 're pathetic '' .
ALT: a cartoon character is standing in the desert and says `` you 're pathetic '' .
media.tenor.com
December 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM
My instagram algorithm has been infiltrated by people who've recorded themselves crying.
I do not like this.
I do not like this.
Submitting my dissertation chapters to journals left and right like *ZIP//ZOP*.
a man with glasses and a mustache is wearing a vest that says " feeling productive today "
ALT: a man with glasses and a mustache is wearing a vest that says " feeling productive today "
media.tenor.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Submitting my dissertation chapters to journals left and right like *ZIP//ZOP*.
Struggling to get into the holiday vibe this year...
Just me?
How are you people doing?
Just me?
How are you people doing?
a hello kitty shaped balloon is flying through the air
ALT: a hello kitty shaped balloon is flying through the air
media.tenor.com
December 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Struggling to get into the holiday vibe this year...
Just me?
How are you people doing?
Just me?
How are you people doing?
Craving an Asian soup.
a bowl of noodles with meat and eggs on a table
ALT: a bowl of noodles with meat and eggs on a table
media.tenor.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Craving an Asian soup.
Cats and coffee >>>>>
December 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Cats and coffee >>>>>
The Brits do brunch right.
December 20, 2025 at 10:05 PM
The Brits do brunch right.
Definitely skipping the next feeding...look how fat my frowgs are!
December 20, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Definitely skipping the next feeding...look how fat my frowgs are!
Hate to cliche myself, but submitting my chapters to journals also "doesn't feel real".
I'm incredibly proud of the work our group put into my dissertation research--but it blows me away that "I" might have done something that other people care about or that may have impact.
#Academia
#scicomm
I'm incredibly proud of the work our group put into my dissertation research--but it blows me away that "I" might have done something that other people care about or that may have impact.
#Academia
#scicomm
December 19, 2025 at 10:07 PM
What are some things that you WISH you learned during your PhD that help you as an early career researcher?
#academia
#AcademicLife
#academia
#AcademicLife
December 16, 2025 at 11:45 PM
What are some things that you WISH you learned during your PhD that help you as an early career researcher?
#academia
#AcademicLife
#academia
#AcademicLife
Fitting.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors have chosen ‘slop’ as the 2025 Word of the Year.
December 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Fitting.
Reposted by Chris Banotai, PhD
“Oh you should be online to try to provide value to your political side” fuck that that’s nerd shit you should be online because you’re unwell and need to tell people about weird animals you saw
December 15, 2025 at 6:48 PM
“Oh you should be online to try to provide value to your political side” fuck that that’s nerd shit you should be online because you’re unwell and need to tell people about weird animals you saw
Reposted by Chris Banotai, PhD
Looking forward to sharing some big news in the near future!
It's starting to look like a return to the bush is in the near future!
It's starting to look like a return to the bush is in the near future!
November 30, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Looking forward to sharing some big news in the near future!
It's starting to look like a return to the bush is in the near future!
It's starting to look like a return to the bush is in the near future!
Just got final feedback and approval to submit the dissertation.
This all still doesn't feel real.
#PhDLife
#academia
This all still doesn't feel real.
#PhDLife
#academia
a man with a mustache says " king in de castle "
ALT: a man with a mustache says " king in de castle "
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM
My niece was asked by her teachers what she's thankful for this Thanksgiving. She said "myself".
That's the energy I'm rolling into 2026 with.
Happy #Thanksgiving, folks!
That's the energy I'm rolling into 2026 with.
Happy #Thanksgiving, folks!
a cartoon of peanuts sitting around a table with the words happy thanksgiving
ALT: a cartoon of peanuts sitting around a table with the words happy thanksgiving
media.tenor.com
November 27, 2025 at 12:53 PM
My niece was asked by her teachers what she's thankful for this Thanksgiving. She said "myself".
That's the energy I'm rolling into 2026 with.
Happy #Thanksgiving, folks!
That's the energy I'm rolling into 2026 with.
Happy #Thanksgiving, folks!