Posted: August 5, 2008 2 a.m. EDT
 |
| Conservationist George Schaller |
Conservationist and author Dr. George Schaller was named vice president of Panthera, an organization dedicated to protecting the world’s wild cats and their habitats.
Schaller spent more than 50 years working for the Wildlife Conservation Society, where he conducted seminal studies on lions, tigers and snow leopards. He has worked for nearly two decades on the Tibetan Plateau in collaboration with Chinese and Tibetan scientists studying wildlife, such as wild yak and snow leopard, and developing conservation strategies.
His decision to join Panthera was based on the critical situation cats are faced with on the ground, he said, adding, “Time is running out for some species, like the tiger, while others, like the snow leopard, are teetering on the brink of survival, and we still do not even know exactly where they occur. By joining Panthera, and remaining as an adviser to WCS, I believe I can have the most impact on conservation at this stage of my life.”
In addition, he is working to create a multinational protected area at the remote mountain juncture of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Tajikistan. He has also turned his attention to the protection of the rare Iranian cheetah, a project on which he works with Panthera Executive Director Dr. Luke Hunter.