Wildlife Trust Board of Directors Announce New Leadership

Dr. Peter Daszak Appointed President of International Conservation Organization

NEW YORK - February 9, 2009 - The Board of Directors of Wildlife Trust (www.wildlifetrust.org) announced today that Dr. Peter Daszak, Executive Vice President of Health at Wildlife Trust, has been appointed President of the organization following the resignation of Dr. Mary C. Pearl. Dr. Pearl, a 15-year veteran of the organization, will return to academia as the Professor, Dean, and Vice President for the new Southampton campus of SUNY Stony Brook. Wildlife Trust, a conservation leader, fosters collaboration between scientists worldwide who are working to protect and restore the health of ecosystems and the humans and animals who live within them.

"Dr. Mary Pearl's steadfast commitment and leadership of Wildlife Trust has led to the creation of innovative conservation programs, such as the field of conservation medicine, and groundbreaking research in numerous countries across the globe," said Sandra E. Peterson, Chairman of the Board of Directors. Under Mary's leadership the organization has grown into a major force in improving conservation of species and identifying the causes of disease migration from wildlife to humans. "I leave Wildlife Trust with a great sense of pride in what we have accomplished and look forward to continuing to support Wildlife Trust under Peter Daszak's leadership. I am confident the organization will continue to pioneer new approaches to conservation and uncover the vital connections that mutually benefit humans, animals, and the environment," said Dr. Mary Pearl.

For over eight years, Dr. Peter Daszak led Wildlife Trust's Consortium for Conservation Medicine, a specialized alliance of scientists, academics, and government agencies, to determine the origin of emerging infectious diseases in attempts to predict and prevent epidemics. "During my tenure at Wildlife Trust we contributed to the emergence of the vital field of conservation medicine and I am eager to continue building upon the successes of Dr. Pearl, bringing new science, new ideas and new partnerships to the field of conservation" said Daszak.

Dr. Daszak is well known as a global leader in the field of conservation medicine. He is a founding co-editor of the respected journal Ecohealth, and a founder of the Ecohealth Society. Dr. Daszak's research has been published in Science and Nature, and has been featured on NPR radio and the Discovery Channel. Daszak has participated in several important discoveries, including the research behind the global amphibian decline, the identification of the wildlife reservoir of the SARS virus, and the emergence of Nipah virus. "We are extremely proud to have a scientist of the stature and leadership of Peter taking the helm of Wildlife Trust, particularly at this time of increased urgency in meeting the challenges of environmental conservation and the increased threat of disease emergence and spread not only among wildlife but to humans," said Ms. Peterson.

About Wildlife Trust
Wildlife Trust empowers local conservation scientists worldwide to protect nature and safeguard ecosystem and human health. Wildlife Trust is a conservation science innovator and leverages research expertise through strategic global alliances. Wildlife Trust pioneered the field of Conservation Medicine, a new discipline that addresses the link between ecological disruption of habitats and the effects on wildlife, livestock and human health.

Founded in 1971 by British naturalist and author Gerald Durrell, Wildlife Trust has built its reputation on 35 years of global research, education, training and experience. Research and conservation work in the United States include programs in Florida and along the coast of the Southeastern U.S.

Internationally, Wildlife Trust trains and supports a network of scientists around the world to save endangered species and their habitats and to protect the health of vital ecosystems. Wildlife Trust created the first egalitarian international network of science-based conservation organizations called the Wildlife Trust Alliance and is a founding partner organization of the Consortium for Conservation Medicine, a unique think-tank of prestigious academic institutions.

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::Media Contact::

Anthony Ramos, Wildlife Trust
Director for Marketing & Communications
ramos@wildlifetrust.org
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