Tuesday, September 7, 2010

The Elephant Sanctuary in TN getting new CEO

Robert Atkinson, Head of Wildlife for the United Kingdom's Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was has been named CEO of The Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald.

It’s the nation’s largest natural habitat refuge developed specifically for endangered Asian and African elephants, the group says.

Atkinson, who has spent more than 11 years with the royal society, will take over the new duties in November.

In his previous position, he managed development of ethical policies affecting wild and captive animals.

His work has involved developing strategy for four wildlife centers and leading efforts to raise awareness about the impact of captivity on elephant welfare.

He previously worked at Woburn Safari Park and carried out university-based research in the United Kingdom and Africa completing his Ph.D. in zoology at Oxford University.

“We’re extremely excited and honored to have a person of Rob’s distinction and expertise joining us in the Sanctuary’s mission to aid these magnificent creatures and bring awareness to the crisis facing captive elephants around the world,” Janice Zeitlin, The Elephant Sanctuary board chairman, said in the announcement.“Under Rob’s leadership, we will continue providing a place of safety, dignity and peace to elephants in need and expand our efforts for education worldwide.”

Mark Watts, CEO of Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said:

“Rob has provided leadership and vision to the teams he has led over the last 11 years with the RSPCA in championing animal welfare. I can think of no one better placed to lead the Sanctuary, its staff and its elephants to a positive future.”

Atkinson is a published author and has served as scientific adviser to the Coalition of Captive Elephant Well-Being. He serves as a consultant on numerous animal welfare issues worldwide.

“I am delighted to hear of Rob's appointment as CEO of The Elephant Sanctuary,” said Professor David Macdonald, CBE, Director of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at Oxford University's zoology department. “As an ecologist who has spent many years studying wild animals, I’m confident Rob will want the elephants to be allowed to behave as much as possible like wild elephants."

Atkinson endorsed the sanctuary in the announcement.

“Elephants are complex, sensitive animals which deserve the best care, and for captive elephants in need, that place is The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee,” he said.

“For the past 15 years, it has been a true sanctuary of healing and refuge. I look forward to all the new challenges and opportunities to help more captive elephants reconnect to the natural world in which they were born to live and exist.”

As for the past 15 years, co-founder Scott Blais will continue to provide leadership for the elephant caregiving staff and management of facility operations.

The Sanctuary is currently completing the second phase of construction to an education gallery located in downtown Hohenwald, Tenn.

The gallery and the upcoming Elecam expansion will enhance the organization’s distance learning project in support of the Sanctuary’s mission to provide education about the crisis facing these intelligent, endangered creatures.

The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is a not-for-profit founded in 1995. Since then, it has provided sanctuary to 24 elephants and brought support from over 75,000 individuals and organizations.

The Sanctuary operates on 2,700 acres in Hohenwald, about 85 miles southwest of Nashville, and has a staff of 24 with 15 current elephant residents.

Courtesy of Bjorn Krebbers

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This deal just get's screwier and screwier doesn't it!!!!!!! Now it appears we have a new mate from across the mackerel pond ramrodding TES. Appears they couldn't find a Colonist suited for the task, and instead put an "ecologist" in the wheel house.

Ecologists study the relationships of living things to their environment and with each other, and examine the effects of a wide range of factors such as population size, rainfall, temperature, forest fires and major construction projects. The basic principle that they follow is that all life on Earth is connected and it is supposed to fit together harmoniously, although we have seen over time that it does not. Interested in sustainability issues, they are faced with trying to solve the impact that many human activities, such as over consumption and air pollution have on the environment and ecosystem in the long term.

Ecologists study how humans consume and produce for their own personal, short-term benefit, without considering the long-term effects of their actions. Ecologists try and promote sustainability ideas, getting more people to understand that we must sometimes act in ways that will help the future environment and ecosystem. If we deplete all of our natural resources, then where will new resources be found?

Ecologists usually specialize in one or more of the following biological areas: botany, marine biology, microbiology, soil science, toxicology, zoology or related disciplines concerned with conservation of the environment. Often working as part of multi-disciplinary teams, ecologists conduct research studies into problems such as the effects of dam construction, mining, logging and recreational use on natural habitats, the management of fish, wildlife and forestry resources, the development of biological control strategies to combat pest insects and weeds, and the effects of pollutants discharged into the air by factories or vehicles on natural vegetation and wildlife.

Average Earnings:

Entry Level Salary:
$29,920
Average Salary:
$47,600
Maximum Salary:
$78,200
CEO Elephant Sanctuary:
$ anybody guess

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