José De Ornellas Cysneiros Dias Ferreira
Twenty-two years of senior leadership experience in major zoological institutions and currently working as Conservation Breeding and Reintroduction Director for the Royal Commission for AlUla (AlUla, Saudi Arabia), with the main focus on the conservation breeding/reintroduction of the Arabian Leopard - Panthera pardus nimr in Saudi Arabia. A combination of Academic Education on Animal Husbandry Science and Animal Behaviour, several recognised professional qualifications and training courses on team management, husbandry, welfare, collection planning, breeding programme management, endangered species conservation. More than two decades of hands-on experience in zoo staff management, wild animal husbandry/transport/exhibit design, as well as active participation in in-situ conservation programs in Brazil, Borneo, Madagascar and the Caucasus Ecoregion. Ten years of experience in the coordination of a particularly demanding EAZA Endangered Species Breeding Programme (Persian Leopard - Panthera pardus tulliana EEP) with direct connection to in-situ conservation work and in permanent collaboration with IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group and WWF, publication of nine editions of the Persian Leopard Studbook, a PL Long Term Management Plan and numerous technical articles. Member of several EAZA Taxon Advisory Groups/Species Committees and other working groups related to both in and ex-situ conservation, including the Caucasian Leopard Reintroduction Advisory Group (CLRAG).
J.Ferreira(at)rcu.gov.sa
