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Alan Rabinowitz

{{Short description|American zoologist}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2018}}

{{Infobox scientist

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| image = Alan Rabinowitz - PopTech 2010 - Camden, Maine (5103727234).jpg

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| caption = Rabinowitz at the PopTech 2010

| birth_name = Alan Robert Rabinowitz

| birth_date = {{birth date|1953|12|31}}

| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|8|5|1953|12|31}}

| death_place = Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.

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| alma_mater = Western Maryland College
University of Tennessee

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| known_for = Wildlife conservation
Jaguar Corridor concept

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| work_institutions = Bronx Zoo
Panthera Corporation

| prizes = International Wildlife Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award (2008){{cite web|url=http://www.wildlifefilms.org/festivals/iwff/lifetimeachievementawards.html |title=International Wildlife Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Awards |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110173207/http://www.wildlifefilms.org/festivals/iwff/lifetimeachievementawards.html |archive-date=January 10, 2012 }}

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Alan Robert Rabinowitz (December 31, 1953 – August 5, 2018) was an American zoologist who served as the president, CEO, and chief scientist at Panthera Corporation, a nonprofit conservation organization devoted to protecting the world's 40 wild cat species.{{cite news

| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/2010/11/101116_outlook_he.shtml

| title= A life devoted to big cats

| work=BBC World Service, 24-minute interview on "Outlook"

| author=Matthew Bannister

| date=November 16, 2010

| access-date=November 16, 2010 }}

Called the "Indiana Jones of Wildlife Protection" by Time, he studied jaguars, clouded leopards, Asiatic leopards, tigers, Sumatran rhinos, bears, leopard cats, raccoons, cervidae, and civets.{{cite magazine| url=http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1702308,00.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080114031535/http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1702308,00.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 14, 2008 | magazine=Time | first=Bryan | last=Walsh | title=The Indiana Jones of Wildlife Protection | date=January 10, 2008}}

Early life

Alan Rabinowitz was born to Shirley and Frank Rabinowitz in Brooklyn, New York, but moved to Queens, New York, soon afterward.{{Cite book|title=Jaguar|last=Rabinowitz|first=Alan|publisher=Island Press|year=2000}} In grade school, he had a severe stutter.{{cite news | url=http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/22/human-factor-animals-saved-me/ | work=CNN | first=Alan | last=Rabinowitz | title=Human Factor: 'Animals saved me' | date=February 22, 2011 | access-date=November 30, 2011 | archive-date=October 26, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026212226/http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/02/22/human-factor-animals-saved-me/ | url-status=dead }} Unable to communicate with his peers and teachers, Rabinowitz became interested in wildlife, with which he could communicate.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/science/18conv.html?n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/Organizations/W/Wildlife%20Conservation%20Society | work=The New York Times | first=Claudia | last=Dreifus | author-link=Claudia Dreifus | title=Zoologist Gives a Voice to Big Cats in the Wilderness | date=December 18, 2007}}

Later, Rabinowitz regularly recalled how in childhood he became interested in wildlife conservation.{{cite news|url=http://www.stutteringhelp.org/default.aspx?tabindex=906&tabid=919 |work=The Stuttering Foundation |title=Stuttering and the Big Cats is an Inspirational Story |date=April 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126223221/http://www.stutteringhelp.org/default.aspx?tabindex=906&tabid=919 |archive-date=November 26, 2011 }}{{cite news|url=http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2010/voice-for-animals/ |work=American Public Media |first=Krista |last=Tippet |title=A Voice for the Animals |date=July 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107152040/http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2010/voice-for-animals/ |archive-date=January 7, 2012 }} In 2008, the video of Rabinowitz telling this story on The Colbert Report went viral.{{cite news|date=June 10, 2008|title=Alan Rabinowitz on The Colbert Report|work=The Colbert Report|url=https://www.cc.com/video/9bdggo/the-colbert-report-alan-rabinowitz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918142731/https://www.cc.com/video/9bdggo/the-colbert-report-alan-rabinowitz|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2021|access-date=19 December 2021}} He served as a spokesperson for the Stuttering Foundation (SFA).{{cite news| url=http://www.stutteringhelp.org/Default.aspx?tabid=669 |title=Alan Rabinowitz Ph.D., explorer, wildlife conservationist and author|work=The Stuttering Foundation}}

In 1974, Rabinowitz received his bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in Westminster, Maryland. He then received his M.S. (1978) and Ph.D. (1981) in ecology from the University of Tennessee.{{cite web|url=https://www.panthera.org/people/alan-rabinowitz-phd|title=Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D. Chief Scientist|publisher=Panthera Corporation|access-date=August 6, 2018|archive-date=August 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806145516/https://www.panthera.org/people/alan-rabinowitz-phd|url-status=dead}}

Career

Prior to co-founding the Panthera Corporation with the organization's chairman, Thomas Kaplan, in 2006, he served as the executive director of the Science and Exploration Division for the Wildlife Conservation Society, where he worked for nearly 30 years.

While working in Myanmar's Hukaung Valley in 1997, he discovered four new species of mammals, including the most primitive deer species in the world, Muntiacus putaoensis, or the leaf deer.{{cite journal |last1=Rabinowitz |first1=A. |last2= Myint |first2=Than |year=1999 |title=Description of the leaf deer, Muntiacus putaoensis, a new species of muntjac from northern Myanmar |journal=Journal of Zoology |issue=4 |volume=249 |pages=427–435 |publisher=The Zoological Society of London |url=http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=66845 |doi=10.1017/s095283699900984x}} His work in Myanmar led to the creation of five new protected areas, including the country's first marine park, Lampi Island Marine National Park; Myanmar's first and largest Himalayan national park, Hkakaborazi National Park; the country's largest wildlife sanctuary, Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary; the world's largest tiger reserve and one of the largest protected areas in the world; and Hponkanrazi Wildlife Sanctuary, an area which connects Hukaung Valley and Hkakaborazi National Park for a contiguous protected area of more than 5,000 square miles called the Northern Forest Complex.[https://web.archive.org/web/20051204021734/http://nationalgeographic.com/adventure/0512/features/alan_rabinowitz.html Alan Rabinowitz's Fight of His Life]. National Geographic. Retrieved August 16, 2013

Rabinowitz also established the world's first jaguar sanctuary – the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary – in Belize and the Tawu Mountain Nature Reserve, Taiwan's largest protected area and last piece of intact lowland forest.{{cite magazine |last=Guynup |first=Sharon |year=2011 |title=The Jaguar Freeway |magazine=Smithsonian |issue=October 2011 |pages=48–57 |url=http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/The-Jaguar-Freeway.html |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-date=November 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114001948/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/The-Jaguar-Freeway.html |url-status=dead }} In Thailand, he conducted the first field research on Indochinese tigers, Indochinese leopards, and Asian leopard cats, leading to the designation of the Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary as a UNESCO world biosphere reserve.{{cite web |url=http://www.panthera.org/people/alan-rabinowitz-phd |title=Alan Rabinowitz, PhD |work=Panthera |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211190518/http://www.panthera.org/people/alan-rabinowitz-phd |archive-date=December 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

One of his achievements was the conceptualization and implementation of the Jaguar Corridor,{{cite web |url=http://www.panthera.org/programs/jaguar/jaguar-corridor-initiative |title=Jaguar Corridor Initiative |work=Panthera |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-date=March 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315162714/http://www.panthera.org/programs/jaguar/jaguar-corridor-initiative |url-status=dead }} a series of biological and genetic corridors for jaguars across their entire range from Mexico to Argentina. Rabinowitz also initiated Panthera's Tiger Corridor Initiative, an effort to identify and protect the world's last remaining large interconnected tiger landscapes, with a primary focus on the remote and rugged Indo-Himalayan region of Asia.{{cite web |url=http://www.panthera.org/programs/tiger/tiger-corridor-initiative |title=Tiger Corridor Initiative |work=Panthera |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111122022348/http://www.panthera.org/programs/tiger/tiger-corridor-initiative |archive-date=November 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }}

His project to establish a chain of protected tiger habitat across the southern Himalaya was the focus of the BBC Natural History Unit's documentary series Lost Land of the Tiger (2010). An expedition team spent a month investigating the status of big cats in Bhutan, leading to the rediscovery of tigers living at much higher altitudes than previously realized.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8998000/8998042.stm |title=Lost tiger population discovered in Bhutan mountains |publisher=BBC Earth News |last=Walker |first=Matt |date=September 20, 2010}}

In November 2017, Rabinowitz stepped down as president and CEO to serve as the chief scientist of Panthera,{{cite press release |url=https://www.panthera.org/panthera-appoints-dr-frederic-launay-lead-global-wild-cat-conservation-organization-succeeding-dr-alan-rabinowitz |title=Panthera Appoints Dr. Frédéric Launay to Lead the Global Wild Cat Conservation Organization, Succeeding Dr. Alan Rabinowitz As CEO |first=Susie |last=Sheppard |date=September 27, 2017 |publisher=Panthera Corporation |access-date=August 7, 2018 |archive-date=August 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806181117/https://www.panthera.org/panthera-appoints-dr-frederic-launay-lead-global-wild-cat-conservation-organization-succeeding-dr-alan-rabinowitz |url-status=dead }} where he oversaw the organization's range-wide conservation programs focused on tigers, lions, jaguars, and snow leopards and additional projects devoted to the protection of cougars, cheetahs, and leopards.{{cite web |url=http://www.panthera.org/programs/overview |title=Panthera's Programs |work=Panthera |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-date=September 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910143019/https://www.panthera.org/programs/overview |url-status=dead }}

Death

Rabinowitz was diagnosed with Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 2001.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/obituaries/alan-rabinowitz-conservationist-of-wild-cats-dies-at-64.html|title = Alan Rabinowitz, Conservationist of Wild Cats, Dies at 64|newspaper = The New York Times|date = August 8, 2018|last1 = Sandomir|first1 = Richard}} He died on August 5, 2018, from the progression of his cancer.{{cite press release |url=https://www.panthera.org/statement-life-and-legacy-panthera-founder-and-renowned-conservationist-dr-alan-rabinowitz |title=Statement on the Life and Legacy of Panthera Founder and Renowned Conservationist, Dr. Alan Rabinowitz |first=Susie |last=Sheppard |date=August 5, 2018 |publisher=Panthera Corporation |access-date=August 6, 2018}} Conservation magazine Conjour said he left behind a "legacy of inspirational big cat conservation".{{cite web |last1=Conjour |title=Dr Alan Rabinowitz, Panthera Co-Founder, Has Died |url=http://conservationjournal.world/editorial/dr-alan-rabinowitz-panthera-co-founder-has-died/ |website=Conjour |date=August 6, 2018 |access-date=August 6, 2018}}

Awards

  • 2004: Our Time Theatre Company Award{{cite web |url=http://nj.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo_Coverage_Our_Time_Theatre_Company_Honors_Dr_Alan_Rabinowitz_20040512 |title=Our Time Theatre Company Honors Dr. Alan Rabinowitz }}
  • 2004: Lowell Thomas Award – New York Explorer's Club{{cite web |url=http://www.explorers.org/index.php/about/history/the_lowell_thomas_award |title=The Lowell Thomas Award |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113040505/http://www.explorers.org/index.php/about/history/the_lowell_thomas_award |url-status=dead }}
  • 2005: George Rabb Conservation Award – Chicago Zoological Society{{cite web|url=http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/czs/Conservation-Leadership/GBR-Medal.aspx |title=Honoring a Leader |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516145154/http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/czs/Conservation-Leadership/GBR-Medal.aspx |archive-date=May 16, 2012 }}
  • 2005: Flying Elephant Foundation Award{{cite web|url=http://www.flyingelephants.org/fellowships/theFellows.php#9 |title=Flying Elephant Fellows |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102090202/http://www.flyingelephants.org/fellowships/theFellows.php |archive-date=January 2, 2012 }}
  • 2006: Kaplan Big Cat Lifetime Achievement Award{{cite web |url=http://www.panthera.org/rabinowitz-kaplan-prize-excellence-cat-conservation |title=Rabinowitz-Kaplan Prize for Excellence in Cat Conservation |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-date=September 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919071944/http://www.panthera.org/rabinowitz-kaplan-prize-excellence-cat-conservation |url-status=dead }}
  • 2008: International Wildlife Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award
  • 2010: Cincinnati Zoo Wildlife Conservation Award{{cite web |url=http://cincinnatizoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/ConsAwardPastRecipients2016.pdf |title=Wildlife Conservation Award Recipients |publisher=Cincinnati Zoo |access-date=August 6, 2018}}
  • 2011: Jackson Hole Lifetime Achievement Award in Conservation{{cite web|url=http://www.jhfestival.org/festival/index.htm |title=2011 Lifetime Achievement Award, Jackson Hole Film Festival |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203070834/http://www.jhfestival.org/festival/index.htm |archive-date=December 3, 2011 }}
  • 2016: Roy Chapman Andrews Society Distinguished Explorer Award{{cite web | title = 2016 Roy Chapman Andrews Society Distinguished Explorer Award |url=https://roychapmanandrewssociety.org/dea-recipient/alan-rabinowitz-2016/ |website=Roy Chapman Andrews Society}}

Books

class=wikitable

! Year !! Title

1986/2000

|Jaguar: One Man’s Struggle to Establish the First Jaguar Preserve.{{cite book |title=Jaguar: One Man's Struggle to Establish the First Jaguar Preserve. |last=Rabinowitz |first=A |year=1986–2000 |publisher=Island Press |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-1-55963-802-9 }}

1991/2002

|Chasing the Dragon’s Tail: The Struggle to Save Thailand’s Wild Cats.{{cite book |title=Chasing the Dragon's Tail: The Struggle to Save Thailand's Wild Cats. |last=Rabinowitz |first=A |year=1991–2000 |publisher=Island Press |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-1-55963-980-4 }}

2001

|Beyond the Last Village: A Journey of Discovery in Asia’s Forbidden Wilderness.{{cite book |title=Beyond the Last Village: A Journey of Discovery in Asia's Forbidden Wilderness. |last=Rabinowitz |first=A |year=2001 |publisher=Island Press |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-1-55963-800-5 }}

2005

|People and Wildlife: Conflict or Coexistence?{{cite book |title=People and Wildlife: Conflict or Coexistence? |last=Woodroffe |first=R |author2=Thirgood, S. |author3=Rabinowitz, A |year=2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-521-53203-7 |url=http://www.cambridge.org/gb/knowledge/isbn/item5708118/?site_locale=en_GB |access-date=December 1, 2011}}

2008

|Life in the Valley of Death: The Fight to Save Tigers in a Land of Guns, Gold, and Greed.{{cite book |title=Life in the Valley of Death: The Fight to Save Tigers in a Land of Guns, Gold, and Greed. |url=https://archive.org/details/lifeinvalleyofde0000rabi |url-access=registration |last=Rabinowitz |first=A |year=2008 |publisher=Island Press |location=Washington, D.C. |isbn=978-1-59726-129-6 }}

2014

|An Indomitable Beast: The Remarkable Journey of the Jaguar.

2014

|A Boy and a Jaguar.{{cite book |title=A Boy and a Jaguar. |last=Rabinowitz |first=A |year=2014 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Harcourt |location=New York, New York. |isbn=978-0-547-87507-1 }}

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.panthera.org Panthera]
  • [http://www.beritalingkungan.com/2013/01/ketika-tw-mendukung-konservasi-harimau.html Panthera tigris sumatrae Indonesia]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20120321120604/http://cdn.themoth.prx.org/moth-podcast-160-alan-rabinowitz.mp3 Alan Rabinowitz: Man & Beast - podcast from the Moth in which Rabinowitz describes growing up as a stutterer, and how it inspired his work] (mp3 format, archived version of March 21, 2012 on archive.org)
  • {{IMDb name|2290941}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rabinowitz, Alan}}

Category:1953 births

Category:2018 deaths

Category:American zoologists

Category:20th-century American Jews

Category:Wildlife Conservation Society people

Category:Scientists from Brooklyn

Category:American chief executives

Category:University of Tennessee alumni

Category:Scientists from New York (state)

Category:Western Maryland College alumni

Category:21st-century American Jews

Category:Jewish American scientists