IUCN/SSC Otter Specialist Group Bulletin
©IUCN/SCC Otter Specialist Group
Volume 28 Issue 1 Pages 1- 60 (January 2011)
Obituary
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| James William Hendry “Jim” Conroy 1943 - 2011) |
On graduating in 1966 at Aberdeen University, Jim Conroy joined British Antarctic Survey (BAS) where he undertook three tours of duty to the Antarctic. Actually only few people were aware that he had also worked in the Antarctic for 11 years studying sea birds and avoiding inquisitive leopard seals. After the years with BAS where he gained experience in both science and management he joined the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology [(ITE) - now the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology [CEH]).
Between 1997 and 1999, he was responsible for developing the biological monitoring programme to determine the effects of the oil pipeline ruptures in northern Russia (Komi Republic). Until 2001, was Convenor of the Centre of Hydrology & Ecology Oil Network. His interest in otters spread far beyond Scotland. His research projects on the species included work on pollutants, monitoring, population structure, breeding, status, and other studies. with the International Otter Survival Fund, where he served as Scientific Advisor. Jim organized two international conferences on the Eurasian otter. In addition to the publication of over 100 papers, reports and articles on otters, Jim also edited the Proceedings of three major otter conferences. Jim joined the Otter Specialist Group (OSG) around 1990 and became its Chair in 2005. He was delighted to expand his vision from the European otter to encompass all otter species and to plan for their conservation and survival. Jim was always willing to champion any prospective otter student or researcher. Jim will be remembered for his enthusiasm, his keen wit and his tireless efforts behalf of otters. He will be missed!
Yes, this is the official side of Jim as we all remember him. However, personally I want to take the chance to mention a few more details, most of them of personal nature. If you would have asked me how long I knew Jim, my spontaneous answer would have been – “20 years”. When I checked it actually it were five years less, but somehow I knew Jim “forever”. We spent a very nice evening in Vienna at the “Fischerbräu”, with locally brewed beer back in January 1996 and ever since then we had lots of contacts. Jim helped me, and I know about several others from different countries, to get my “alpine” or whatever “local” English right for some papers. Jim and I once drove the way from Aberdeen to Skye, and he explained me Scottish geology, nature and history (including inside information on Whisky). I also had the honour in the last years to be one of the inner circle of “otter friends” with whom he shared his thoughts and whom he sometimes asked for backup of his ideas. It was in these years as chairman of the IUCN OSG that he saw how challenging the “human dimensions” aspect of the position were, and came to better understand and appreciate Claus Reuther (and some of the reasons behind Claus’s decision making). I had the real privilege to visit Jim and his family in early March this year and keep lots of good memories of these hours in Jims family, the hospitality of Ann and the tremendous open heartedness of his son Alasdair. I am thankful for these moments.
Arno Gutleb |
The world of otters has lost one of its staunchest supporters: Jim Conroy, the Chair of the Otter Specialist Group, died on March 22nd after a brave battle with cancer.
Initially based at Monks Wood, he moved to Banchory, Scotland in 1980 where he began his involvement with the oil industry, which is how he became involved with otter research. His initial research on otters began in Shetland and led to more oil-orientated work with the development of contingency plans for Post Oil Spill Wildlife Rehabilitation. He gained practical experience in this being scientific advisor in the "Braer" oil spill. He also acted as advisor to the International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Ltd (ITOPF), and advised them on the potential threat of the "San Jorge" spill on the seals of Islos de Lobos in the River Plate.
