Responsibilities

As acting head of the Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation I am primarily in charge of the development and delivery of the RZSA’s Research Strategy, and line-managing the zoo research team. As international studbook keeper for the Bonobo breeding programme I support the programme coordinator Jeroen Stevens in the management of this poulation. Within the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA) I chair the Research Committee, which is responsible for the implementation of EAZA's Research Strategy.

Research Interests

My current research interests are focussed on small population management, in particular how demographic and genetic data from captive breeding populations can be used to inform and optimise the management of wild and captive populations. This work is in collaboration with various international collaborators in the zoo community, the conservation community and academics.

Brief Biography

I obtained a PhD in Behavioural Ecology from Utrecht University, The Netherlands, and gained considerable research experience in animal behaviour (Utrecht University), molecular genetics (Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London) and conservation genetics (RZSA). I am a visiting professor at the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) and the University of Antwerp (Belgium), where I am involved in teaching and course development, and the supervision of PhD and MSc students.

Key Publications

• Willie, J., Tagg, N., Petre, C-A., Pereboom, J. J. M., & Lens, L. (2014). Plant selection for nest building by western lowland gorillas in Cameroon. Primates, 55(1), 41-49. 10.1007/s10329-013-0363-5
• Ndeloh-Etiendem, D., Tagg, N., Hens, L., & Pereboom, Z. (2013). Human use of Mawambi Hills forests, SW Cameroon: Implications for the survival of the Cross River gorilla. Endangered Species Research, 20, 167-179. 10.3354/esr00492
• Browne, R.K. , K. Wolfram, G. García, M.F. Bagaturov, & J.J.M. Pereboom (2011) Zoo-based amphibian research and conservation breeding programs. Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 5(3):1-14.

ResearchGate