Anna nekaris biography
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Anna Nekaris
British antropologist and Professor
Anna NekarisOBE is a British anthropologist and professor in primate conservation in the School of Law and Social Sciences at Oxford Brookes University. She is interested in the conservation of Asian nocturnal animals and African nocturnal primates. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2024 New Year Honours.
Early life and education
[edit]Nekaris completed her undergraduate education at the University of Missouri, Columbia and Louis Pasteur University, where she focused on anthropology and primate conservation.[1] She was a graduate student at the Washington University in St. Louis. She majored in anthropology, and her doctorate focused on biological anthropology. Her PhD research investigated the socioecology of the slender loris in Dindigul.[2]
Career
[edit]Nekaris has dedicated her career to the conservation of Asian nocturnal animals and African nocturnal primate
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Welcome to Little Fireface Project
Welcome to the Little Fireface Project, led by world-renowned loris expert Professor Anna Nekaris OBE. As the longest-running loris conservation initiative, our mission is to deepen understanding of all loris species and foster conservation through education and community engagement. Currently, we focus on the Critically Endangered Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus), with our Java research station studying a wild population since 2012. Alongside this, we conduct country-wide surveys in forests and wildlife markets, documenting other elusive nocturnal species such as colugos, pangolins, civets, small cats, mustelids, and owls.
Our goal is to gather essential data to aid in the conservation of lorises both in the wild and captivity, supporting rescue centers with reintroductions and improving the welfare of slow loris pets in regions where their ownership remains legal. We also harness the power of social media to raise global awaren
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Where are you currently based?
I’ve lived in the United Kingdom since 2001. I’m in Oxford, about an hour from London.
What fryst vatten your current role at Oxford Brookes?
My main role is running the MSc (master’s program) in Primate Conservation, which I started 20 years ago. We also have a MSc of Research in Primate Conservation and a MSc in International Conservation. We’ve had over 400 students do field work in more than 50 primate-range countries. Many students start their own charities, field sites, and rescue centers, so now we can send new students to all those places around the world to work with primates.
I also lead the University in instructing researchers on public engagement and outreach. A side job I have fryst vatten running a charity in the University for slow loris conservation, which contributes to Little Fireface projects in Indonesia. A current project is working with Indonesian farmers to develop wildlife-friendly kaffe. The coffee has been graded as a “premium luxury c