Tracking the changing fortunes of the weasel family in Britain
Professor Robbie McDonald to deliver prestigious Cranbrook Lecture
The Mammal Society has announced that this year’s Cranbrook Lecture will be delivered by Professor Robbie McDonald, Chair in Natural Environment at the Environment and Sustainability Institute at the University of Exeter.
The title of this year’s lecture will be “Big Changes for Small Carnivores – a brief 20,000 year History of Mustelids in the British Isles”. The lecture, which will take place at the Queen’s Lecture Theatre at the University of Exeter at 7.30pm on Friday 20th April, is free and open to the public.
Robbie McDonald has been a Professor at the University of Exeter for seven years, prior to this he was Head of Wildlife Science and Deputy Chief Scientist at the Food and Environment Research Agency. The bulk of his research involves working out how best to manage problems caused by wildlife. His current research projects include: ecology and management of disease in wildlife, particularly tuberculosis in badgers and understanding human conflicts over wildlife.
Chair of the Mammal Society, Professor Fiona Mathews said “From weasels to badgers, mustelids get a mixed press. Whilst the recovery of polecat, pine-marten and otter populations are welcomed by conservationists, other groups consider these carnivores a threat to their livelihood. Prof McDonald is one of the country’s leading experts on mustelids and the management of human-wildlife conflicts, and I am delighted he is delivering this year’s lecture.”
Professor McDonald will also be presenting the awards for the Mammal Society’s Mammal Photographer of the Year Competition. The winning photographs will be available to view at the event.
The Cranbrook Lecture marks the start of the Mammal Society’s 64th annual Spring Conference. This year’s Conference takes place at the University of Exeter and will run from 20th to 22rd April.
More details about the Cranbrook lecture and tickets for the Mammal Society Spring Conference can be found online at http://www.mammal.org.uk/events/the-mammal-societys-64th-spring-conference-2018/. Professor McDonald’s talk is free of charge and although there is no need to book a place, seating will be limited and places will be allocated first come first served. Arrival at by 7.15pm is encouraged in order to make the most of the Mammal Photographer of the Year exhibition.