Who is professor Carl Jones?
Carl Gwynfe Jones was born on June 20, 1954, in Carmarthen, Wales, United Kingdom. From an early age, he was fascinated with animals and even bred kestrels in his backyard during his youth. He attended Queen Elizabeth I Grammar School for boys in Carmarthen. Jones completed his BSc at North East London Polytechnic and began his master’s degree at University of Wales, Swansea in 1978. Initially studying developmental strategies in owls, he changed his research focus when offered the opportunity to run a conservation project in Mauritius. He arrived in Mauritius in 1979 while working for the International Council for Bird Preservation (now known as Birdlife International). Jones has stated: “I have always known what I wanted to do for as long as I can remember. I wanted to work with [animals].” He is married with two children and currently lives in Carmarthen, Wales.
His home includes an extensive collection of 6,000 books, taxidermied animals, and various animal remains collected throughout his career. Among his personal pets are two Andean condors named Carlos and Baby.
Carl Jone’s Major Achievements
Carl Jones is most famous for saving the critically endangered Mauritius kestrel (Falco punctatus) from near extinction, increasing its population from just four individuals in 1974 to approximately 400 birds.
He also successfully recovered the pink pigeon population, which had declined to just 10 individuals by 1990, to about 400 birds across seven subpopulations by 2015.
One other notable conservation achievement is his efforts for the echo parakeet (now known as the Mauritius parakeet), bringing it back from the brink of extinction.
In total, saved nine species from extinction, including birds, reptiles, and plants.
He pioneered innovative conservation techniques, including hands-on management of wild populations, captive breeding, and techniques such as “double-clutching” (removing eggs to encourage females to lay a second brood).
Recently, he was featured in Dessert Island Disc, whereProfessor Carl Jones, conservation biologist, shared the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would take with him if cast away to a desert island. Listen to the radio broadcast here, https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00290d8.