Biologist defender of wild horses to speak at Monday's Democratic tele-luncheon
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Fri, 04/23/2021 - 10:13am
Event Date:
April 26, 2021 - 12:00pm The featured speaker at Monday's Democratic tele-luncheon will be biologist Craig Downer, who will explain how climate change is impacting Nevada's herds of wild horses and burros. Over the years, he has collected data from more than fifty herd management areas, and supplied the BLM and the public with valuable research based on hundreds of scientifically based ecological evaluations.
Downer has also composed a reserve design proposal for the restoration of wild horse herds at viable population levels, permitting them to adapt beneficially and harmoniously in multi-species habitats and stabilizing populations through intelligent employment of the sound reserve design principles. Through his public advocacy, he hopes to raise awareness that mustangs are native to North America and beneficial to its environment.
Craig earned his Master of Science degree in Biology from the University of Nevada-Reno, with a specialization in wildlife ecology. He received excellent grades in all courses required for a Ph.D. in wildlife ecology at the University of Kansas-Lawrence, then went to England for work as a PhD candidate at the University of Durham, where he conducted a doctoral field study in Equador's Sangay National Park, where he became the first biologist ever to capture, radio collar, release and track the illusive Andean Tapir.
Downer's pioneering field work included radio telemetry for endangered mountain tapirs, both in Sangay National Park and throughout Ecuador and other northern Andean countries. As President of the Andean Tapir Fund and Wild Horse and Burro Fund, that work has been expanded through coordination of broad based efforts to save all species of odd toed ungulates and their habitat, including the wild horses and burros of North America. Craig's efforts include giving talks, making field trips, and compiling reports complete with videos and photographs.
Craig Downer is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC). He wrote an action plan and species description for the endangered Andean Tapir for the IUCN SSC Tapir Specialist Group. He is an advisor to IUCN SSC’s Equine Specialist Group. He is a member of the American Society of Mammologists, and co-author of their special Mammalian Species Mountain Tapir publication.
Craig was a friend and associate of the legendary Wild Horse Annie, with whom he engaged in public advocacy projects. He authored several wild horse books, including Wild Horse Conspiracy, America’s Wild Horses & Burros Must Make a Comeback, and Wild Horses: Living Symbols of Freedom. He has also authored many articles about wild horses and burros, mountain tapirs, wilderness areas and parks. He composed and recorded on CD the 45-minute Wild Horse Rhapsody for piano. He also composed Streams of the Soul, a 341-page book of poetry. He maintains two educational websites at thewildhorseconspiracy.org and andeantapirfund.com.
A lifelong ecologist and humanitarian, Craig has stated his objectives to be a major revaluing of wild animals and their special place in the natural world wherever they occur, as well as broad policy shifts that promote more harmonious and natural lifestyles among all elements of human society.
Sponsored by the Democratic Men's Committee, this event is scheduled for noon on Monday, April 26th, and will be held online via Zoom teleconference due to masking and social distancing restrictions at in-person venues. Those wishing to be on distribution for these Zoom links should email Rich Dunn, Men's Committee Events Coordinator, at richdunn@aol.com.
- American Society of Mammologists
- Andean Tapir
- Andean Tapir Fund
- Andes
- Announcements
- Biologist
- burros
- climate change
- Craig Downer
- Democratic
- Democratic Men's Committee
- design
- Equador
- Equine
- Group
- habitats
- IUCN
- Men's Committee
- Nevada
- piano
- poetry
- radio telemetry
- reserve
- Rich Dunn
- Sangay National Park
- Specialist
- SSC
- Streams of the Soul
- University of Nevada-Reno
- Wild Horse Annie
- Wild Horse Conspiracy
- Wild Horse Rhapsody
- wildlife ecology
- Zoom
- Wild Horses
