Kristin Leus

Kristin Leus is the Europe convenor for the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Conservation Planning Specialist Group, which is hosted by the Copenhagen Zoo. Her work for the CPSG involves genetic and demographic management of small populations of threatened species both in the field and in captivity, the integration of ex-situ activities in the overall conservation strategy for a species, and the facilitation of species conservation planning workshops.

One person who nominated Leus said she is “well known in the global zoo and aquarium community as a global expert on lion tamarins, babirusa and red pandas”.

They added, “Kristin works in equal parts for Copenhagen Zoo, the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group and the EAZA executive office. She is an exceptional facilitator and has led countless conservation workshops with the endeavour to motivate the participants to do their very best thinking to the benefit of the conservation issue at hand.

“The EAZA new-style population management and the CPSG ex-situ assessments, which influence the ex-situ conservation work of zoos and aquaria all over the world, were developed under her leadership.”