Dr Helen Senn
Head of Conservation and Science Programmes
Helen manages the RZSS Conservation department. She has worked at RZSS since 2011, including managing the RZSS WildGenes lab. She is a specialist in conservation genetics. She also works on species conservation strategies and action plans across the globe.
She has particular interests in the management of reintroductions, the detection and management of hybridization, relationship between taxonomy and conservation, strategic planning and capacity building. Her academic research work mainly focuses on arid-land ungulate species (e.g. Arabian oryx, scimitar-horned oryx, addax and dama gazelle), wildcats, beaver and other mammals. Her PhD research focused on the hybridisation of red and sika deer in Scotland.
BACKGROUND
- PhD (University of Edinburgh, UK) Molecular Ecology/Evolutionary Biology
• BSc hons (University of St Andrews) Environmental and Evolutionary Biology
OTHER POSITIONS
- IUCN Antelope specialist group member (2014-)
- IUCN Conservation genetics specialist group member (2016-)
- Sahara Conservation Fund Conservation & Science Committee Member (2014-)
- EAZA population management group (2015-)
- EAZA bio-banking working group (2016-)
- Genetics advisor to Scottish Wildcat (2016-) and AZAA Arabian Sand Cat (2014-) breeding programmes.
- Genetics advisor to the European Association of Zoo and Aquaria (EAZA) Antelope and Giraffe Taxonomic Advisory Group (TAG) and EAZA Felid TAG.
- University of Edinburgh, Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Hon. Fellowship (2016-)
- University of Glasgow, Institute of Biodiversity Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, Affiliate (2016-)
- Sharjah International Workshop for the Conservation of Arabian Biodiversity Scientific Committee Member (2017-)
- Scottish Environment LINK Trustee (2017-)
Publications
For all of Helen's publications please visit her Google Scholar page here.
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Blog
11/05/2022
A GIANT update
Our charity has worked with Arnaud and his team at the Wildlife Conservation Institute (ICAS) in Brazil for over a decade to safeguard endangered giant armadillos, giant anteaters and their threatened habitat.
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Blog
28/04/2022
The new scientific techniques saving an ancient species
Capercaillie (Capall coille in Scots Gaelic, meaning ‘horse of the woods’) are such rare and elusive birds in the UK that few of us nowadays would be lucky enough to see one. In this guest blog by Jocasta Mann, communications officer at the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project, find out more about the largest grouse in the world and discover how the Cairngorms Capercaillie Project is working with a wide range of partners, including scientists at RZSS WildGenes, to improve the long-term fortune of this iconic Scottish species.