AN ECOLOGIST who travelled the world to help save endangered species has died at the age of 29, only five months after being diagnosed with cancer.

Family and friends of Dr Emily Goodman, who gained a PhD at the University of York, described her as an “inspiration”.

She studied butterflies in Costa Rica, protected turtles in Greece and gained her doctorate in the study of badger behaviour.

She was also a keen rower, trekked to Mount Everest base camp, was a competent horse rider and scuba diver and loved rock and ice climbing, kayaking and cycling.

Last year she ran the London Marathon, raising more than £800 for Save The Rhino International.

Dr Piran White, of the environment department at the University of York, said: “Emily loved animals all her life, and her PhD was concerned with badger social behaviour.

“The research required long hours in the field at all times of the day and night, but Emily applied herself to the task with characteristic determination.

“Her work employed some novel technology for monitoring interactions between badgers, which allowed her to determine rates of contact between individuals and improve our understanding of transmission of bovine tuberculosis among badgers.

“Emily was co-author of a paper presented at European Wildlife Diserase Association conference in Holland in September, just before her death.”

Her parents, Celia and Doug Goodman, of Twickenham, said she had shown great courage during her battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mrs Goodman said: “Her main characteristics were her independence and her determination – verging on stubbornness.

“She was, in her illness, incredibly brave and never complained. She was like that with most things. She just got on with it.”

Dr Goodman played the flute and saxophone and performed in the Richmond Youth Orchestra and with groups in York and Chester.