David E. Wildts contributions to global conservation efforts will be felt for generations, his colleagues said in the wake of his passing.

Wildt, who died from cancer on Jan. 15 at the age of 69, was director of the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institutes Center for Species Survival in Front Royal before retiring in December 2018.

He was not only a brilliant man and a diplomat, he was one of those special people who makes other people feel special, said Kelley Snodgrass, executive director of the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center in Texas.

Heck of a guy, Snodgrass said of Wildt in a Thursday phone interview. He could go from speaking about single nucleotide polymorphisms to tractors and his favorite chainsaw.

Wildts ability to get results from a diverse group of people is one of the things Snodgrass said hell remember most about his colleague.

Those are rare qualities that are so desperately needed, said Snodgrass. He was kind of the complete package.

Wildt was a seminal leader in conservation biology, [and] his prolific breakthroughs in reproductive biology and population genetics benefitted wildlife enormously, the Smithsonian wrote in a news release published at its website, nationalzoo.si.edu/conservation.

Wildt established genome resource banks and developed ground-breaking assisted reproductive technologies for giant pandas to name just one of more than 50 endangered species, the Smithsonian release states. His scientific legacy includes more than 300 scientific papers and mentorship and training of hundreds of graduate and post-doctoral students, and colleagues around the world.

One of his most groundbreaking discoveries happened when he realized that the survival plan for one species could not automatically be applied to another species, said his wife Dr. Susie Ellis, executive director of the International Rhino Foundation, which is based in Strasburg.

[H]e started out with using domestic animals as a model for wildlife, Ellis said.

However, he realized that scientists need to work within the parameters of each species needs when they develop research protocols.

Every single animal is completely different, she said. That was a huge breakthrough for him.

Another of his proudest accomplishments was his work with black-footed ferrets, which have been endangered for more than 30 years.

Only 17 of the animals remained in the wild when Wildt started working with them, she said. His team worked diligently to create artificial insemination methods, and now, she said, there are a couple thousand.

Wildt is survived by a daughter, Chelsea Taft; her husband, Beau; grandsons Noah and Jackson; stepsons, Zachary Joseph (wife Cassie), and Maxwell Joseph (wife Stephanie); and granddaughter, Everett; as well as numerous students, the Smithsonian release states.

He also is survived by his mother Louise Wildt; brother, Alan Wildt (wife Margaret) of Virginia, Illinois, and their three children.

Wildt and Ellis are canine parents to Ivy La Fleur (IVF), a female from the first litter of dogs birthed in 2015 via in vitro fertilization, the release states. Wildts SCBI team partnered with researchers at Cornell University to successfully use in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to produce live, healthy domestic puppies from cryopreserved (frozen) embryos.

For all of his professional accomplishments and successes in helping save wildlife, those closest to him remember him as a giving friend, colleague and teacher.

He was a down-home person, a brilliant scientist, Ellis said. He always had time for his students. I think thats his true legacy.

Wildts love for animals began in his childhood growing up on a rural farm in Illinois, his wife said.

His first trip to Africa really resonated with him, Ellis said. He realized then that he wanted to work with wildlife.

Wildt worked with wildlife at various zoos, in particular Omahas Henry Doorly Zoo and the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, Texas.

He did a lot of work to get to where he was, Ellis said.

In 2017, Wildt received the Smithsonian Institutions Distinguished Scholar Award in the Sciences. He received scientific achievement awards from Illinois State University, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

His early pioneering work with cheetahs led to the creation of the New Opportunities in Animal Health Sciences (NOAHS Center) in 1988, the release states, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among the National Zoo, the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute to promote the health, genetic diversity and reproduction of endangered species in zoo and wild populations.

In 2005, he was one of the founding visionaries to establish the Conservation Centers for Species Survival, now based in Texas, the release states. This unique consortium was born out of an urgent need for science-driven programs and greater collaboration between facilities managing critically endangered species and private landowners.

Theres no one that comes even close to the impact that he has, said Dr. Nucharin Songsasen, acting head of the Center for Species Survival.

Calling him a pioneer in his field of population sustainability studying big herd concepts and genome population management she said the field benefited from his training of the next generation of wildlife scientists.

Thats a huge impact, she said. I just cant imagine anyone who would measure at that level.

Being a woman in a traditionally man-driven field, she said she has appreciated Wildts encouragement and leadership.

A lot of labs and offices have a culture that excludes women, she said, but Wildt wasnt like that.

I think the one thing that I really appreciate is he [was] a very good boss, Songsasen said. I would not trade him for any other boss.

Because he led by example, she said shes adopted his leadership habits in how she responds to students training under her in particular, returning emails and following up on conversations.

He set an example for all of us, she said. Its a good example that we should all follow.

The Smithsonian has set up a fund to honor Wildts work. Donations made in his memory will support his legacy and passion for educating students by bringing renowned science leaders and eminent researchers to SCBI to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.

See original here:
Renowned scientist remembered for his way with people and animals - Northern Virginia Daily

Comments are closed.