Richard Despard Estes (December 26, 1927 - December 6, 2021) was a biologist specialising in the behaviour of mammals in mainland Africa. He was particularly interested in studying wildebeest. This interest led Rod East, the former co-chair of the Antelope Specialist Group of the IUCN-World Conservation Union, to dub him the 'Guru of Gnu.'[1] It has been suggested that Estes is responsible for most of the world's knowledge of wildebeest behaviour.[2][3]
Estes chose to study wildebeest because he thought they were 'the most interesting' animals he knew, particularly in their rutting behaviour. He obtained his doctorate in the early 1960s with a thesis on the wildebeest of the Ngorongoro Crater, in which he advanced the theory that the females' estrus was triggered by the rumbling 'love call' of the males. Estes has spent most of the ensuing 40 years doing field work in Africa. In 2004 he began a project in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution to test his early theory using new advances in molecularchemistry.
Estes has written two guides for travellers to Africa, The Behavior Guide to African Mammals (considered the standard reference of its kind) and The Safari Companion.
richard, despard, estes, december, 1927, december, 2021, biologist, specialising, behaviour, mammals, mainland, africa, particularly, interested, studying, wildebeest, this, interest, east, former, chair, antelope, specialist, group, iucn, world, conservation,. Richard Despard Estes December 26 1927 December 6 2021 was a biologist specialising in the behaviour of mammals in mainland Africa He was particularly interested in studying wildebeest This interest led Rod East the former co chair of the Antelope Specialist Group of the IUCN World Conservation Union to dub him the Guru of Gnu 1 It has been suggested that Estes is responsible for most of the world s knowledge of wildebeest behaviour 2 3 Estes chose to study wildebeest because he thought they were the most interesting animals he knew particularly in their rutting behaviour He obtained his doctorate in the early 1960s with a thesis on the wildebeest of the Ngorongoro Crater in which he advanced the theory that the females estrus was triggered by the rumbling love call of the males Estes has spent most of the ensuing 40 years doing field work in Africa In 2004 he began a project in cooperation with the Smithsonian Institution to test his early theory using new advances in molecular chemistry Estes has written two guides for travellers to Africa The Behavior Guide to African Mammals considered the standard reference of its kind and The Safari Companion Estes lives in Peterborough New Hampshire 4 Bibliography editThe Behavior Guide to African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals Carnivores Primates University of California Press 1991 National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife with Peter C Alden Duane Schlitter and Bunny McBride Knopf 1995 The Safari Companion A Guide to Watching African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals Carnivores and Primates Chelsea Green Publishing Company 1999Notes and references edit Boroughs Don February 1 2005 The Guru of Gnu National Wildlife Federation Archived from the original on February 4 2012 Don Boroughs Guru of the Gnus BBC Wildlife magazine July 2004 Richard Despard Estes Monadnock Ledger Transcript Retrieved 13 January 2022 ASIN 1890132446 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a Missing or empty title help title missing External links editSelection of articles by Estes from the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation Interview with Thomson Safaris Newsletter Audio interview mp3 format from airborneadventuresafrica com nbsp nbsp nbsp This article about an American zoologist is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Despard Estes amp oldid 1206953240, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
