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George Beals SchallerAmerican ethologist and writer
Date of Birth: 26.05.1933
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biograhy of George B. Schaller
- Study of Mountain Gorillas
- Conservation Work and Expeditions
- Later Work and Recognition
Biograhy of George B. Schaller
Early Life and EducationGeorge Beals Schaller was born on May 26, 1933, in Berlin. When he was seven years old, his family immigrated to the United States. In 1955, Schaller graduated from the University of Alaska. During his time there, he studied the behavior of wild animals in the Kolville River area, Katmai National Park, and the Arctic. He wrote a seminal work on the migration and feeding habits of northern deer.
Study of Mountain Gorillas
While working on his dissertation at the University of Wisconsin, Schaller organized an expedition to the Congo in 1959 to study the behavior of mountain gorillas, who were facing the threat of extinction. For over a year, Schaller and his wife lived among these animals, learning to recognize individual gorillas and observing changes in their moods and habits. In 1962, Schaller successfully defended his dissertation and wrote his first book, "Mountain Gorilla," which was awarded the Wildlife Society's prize in 1965. The New York Zoological Society partially financed the expedition to the Congo.
Conservation Work and Expeditions
In 1966, Schaller was hired by the New York Zoological Society, and in 1980, he became the director of wildlife conservation. He subsequently undertook expeditions to India (1963-1965), Tanzania (1966-1969), Nepal (1970), Pakistan (1972-1975), and Brazil (1976-1979). Based on the results of these expeditions, Schaller wrote several books and a series of scientific and popular articles. Some of his notable works include "The Deer and the Tiger: A Study of Wildlife in India" (1967), "The Serengeti Lions" (1972), "Serengeti, A Kingdom of Predators" (1972), "Golden Shadows, Flying Hooves" (1973), "Mountain Monarchs: Wild Sheep and Goats of the Himalayas" (1977), and "Stones of Silence" (1980).
Later Work and Recognition
From 1981 to 1984, Schaller studied the behavior of pandas in the Wolong Reserve in China. In 1985, he observed the lives of wild animals in Tibet, particularly snow leopards, as well as herbivores such as wild donkeys, gazelles, and deer.
In 1980, Schaller was awarded the Golden Medal of the World Wildlife Fund.
