National Geographic's "Nature's Greatest Defender"

For those of us involved in Conservation Biology there is an icon, an undisputed greatest conservation biologist of our time – George Schaller. Certainly in popular culture names like Goodall and Fossey are well known while I find most people have never heard of George Schaller. That is a shame as he has been the first to study many species and has been involved, in fact spearheaded, the protection of millions of acres for wildlife around the world. This Saturday National Geographic will air a program, "Nature’s Greatest Defender" that will illustrate the brilliant accomplishments of this one man and hopefully allow many nature lovers to learn more about this astounding scientist who is the most accomplished conservationist of our time.

Schaller was the first to do extensive studies on many of the world’s most well known species, the animals I refer to as sexy mega-fauna. After doing some work in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Schaller headed to Africa where he did the pioneering research on mountain gorillas, creating the opportunity for Dian Fossey’s work, followed by ground breaking research on lions in the Serengeti. Out of Africa Schaller moved on to do the first major study on giant pandas, did extensive research on snow leopards, and has long been involved with extremely rare species in central Asia that most have never heard of like the Marco Polo sheep – a spectacular creature.

Unlike many scientists who focus on the biology of a species Schaller’s greatest legacy is he has taken his findings and worked with governments and other partners to create enormous protected areas. He has left the world with protected places to harbor sacred species and been a leader in deriving benefits for local partners to involve them in conservation – the only way lasting conservation can be achieved.