11 Jun 07

Professor David Macdonald of Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) has been named the UK's 9th most influential living conservationist by BBC Wildlife magazine.

In the feature, published in the July issue of the magazine, Professor Macdonald came in only one place behind veteran botanist David Bellamy and two behind influential scientist and author James Lovelock. Sir David Attenborough was beaten to the number one spot by HRH Prince Charles.

More than 80 conservationists were nominated by an advisory panel and BBC Wildlife magazine readers. A judging panel of conservation campaigners, advisors and journalists then chose who, out of these, were worthy of a place in the top 20.

The article, 'Our Wildlife Heroes', described Professor Macdonald's main achievement as 'founding and running the WildCRU, one of the most high-profile science-based conservation groups in the world'. It highlighted the contribution of the 50 plus WildCRU scientists working around the world to find solutions to human-animal conflicts. The feature also cited Professor Macdonald's work as a filmmaker producing such popular documentaries as 'Night of the Fox' and the Wildscreen Award-winning 'Meerkats United'. In summary, environmental advisor Janet Barber said that 'David is in a class of his own in terms of science and influence.'

The last year has been exciting one for the WildCRU team with Professor Macdonald receiving medals of commendation from both the American and British Mammal Societies. He is currently in the US receiving the American Society of Mammalogists prestigious Merriam Award for outstanding research contributions to the science of mammalogy. Last month saw other members of the team honoured too, with doctoral student Erika Cuellar winning a Whitley Award (Human Rights & the Environment, sponsored by Sting & Trudie Styler) from HRH the Princess Royal for her work in Bolivia, and doctoral student Silvio Marchini and WildCRU associate Cristian Bonacic receiving commendations from the Whitley Fund.

The WildCRU is part of the Department of Zoology at the University of Oxford.