Renowned wildlife specialist Schaller to speak May 18

George Schaller, the acclaimed wildlife biologist whose studies and writings about mountain gorillas, pandas, tigers, lions and leopards, has placed him in the pantheon of 20th century naturalists, will give a free public lecture at the university.

Schaller, who earned a master’s degree from UW–Madison and will receive an honorary doctorate from the university during next weekend’s commencement ceremonies, will give a talk entitled “Wildlife of Tibet” Friday, May 18, at 10:30 a.m. in 168 Noland Hall, 250 N. Mills St.

The lecture will focus on Schaller’s work on the Tibetan Plateau, a place he has visited every year since 1984 to conduct surveys and studies of wild yak, Tibetan antelope, Tibetan wild ass, snow leopard and other animals. The talk will also reflect on issues of conservation and the increasing pressure on wildlife reserves from local people and outside development interests.