Interview Courtesy of Lee Simmons
Interviewed by Steven John Olson
Dr. Ulysses S. Seal III discusses his career and long time involvement with the Conservation Planning Specialist Group and working with zoos around the world for conservation of threatened species. He talks about his involvement with the computer software Species360 and how it assists zoos in captive animal management.
Interview Courtesy of Lee Simmons
Interviewed by Steven John Olson
Dr. Ulysses S. Seal III devoted much of his professional career working to save the biodiversity of animal life and to empower zoos to manage their collections in a more scientific manner. A biochemist by training, working with endangered species conservation became his passion. He was instrumental in founding Species360, a global, central database that provides computerized animal management for more than 500 cooperating zoological institutions worldwide.
Ulysses S. Seal III served as chairman of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) from 1979 to 2003. (CBSG is one of about 125 specialist groups, all belonging to the Species Survival Commission, one of the six commissions of the IUCN – The World Conservation Union) He published more than 260 peer reviewed journal articles; and 70 book chapters and reviews. Honors received included the AAZPA Marlin Perkins Award (1991), the Chicago Zoological Society’s Presidents Award (1992), the Zoological Society of Antwerp’s Gold Medal (1993), Emory University’s Emory Medal (1993), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region Silver Eagle Award (1994) the first Heini Hediger award of the IUDZG (1996), the SSC’s Peter Scott Award for Conservation Merit (2002), the San Diego Zoo’s Conservation Medal (2002), and the North of England Zoological Society’s Gold Medal (2002). In addition, 2 awards have been created in Ulysses honor: CBSG’s Ulysses S. Seal Award for Innovation in Conservation (2002), and SEAZA’s Ulysses S. Seal Award (2003).
Ulysses S. Seal III conducted more than 200 CBSG workshops in 60+ countries during his time at CBSG. These workshops involved more than 6,000 participants, many of whom have gone on to make conservation contributions of their own.