Cristian Bonacic

Dr. Cristian Bonacic, DVM. M.Sc. DPhil in Zoology (Wolfson college, Oxford University).

Professor, wildlife scientist and lecturer in wildlife conservation at the School of Agriculture and Forestry Science of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Director of Fauna Australis.

Head of the Environmental Science Diploma and of the MSc in Conservation and Wildlife Management. Member of the Wildlife Trust Alliance and associate researcher of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU, Oxford) & Macaulay Land Use Research (Darwin Initiative project). Adjunct researcher of CERC, Columbia University. In 2007 received a Whitley Commnendation for his work in innovation for conservation science from HRH Princess Royal at the Royal Geographical Society of London.

“For the last 28 years, I have conducted research, teaching, leaded international ad national conservation projects, organised workshops, fieldwork and activities with local communities in several countries. My research interests includes sustainable use of wildlife, conflict resolution between people and wildlife, business and biodiversity, global change and biodiversity and applied animal welfare to wildlife conservation and control.

Most of my projects are based in the altiplano, Atacama desert, Mediterranean ecosystem of central Chile, Temperate rainforests and Patagonia. But I also commit myself to report to decision makers nationally and internationally (IUCN, US Fish and Wildlife Service, European Union, The UK, Argentina, Bolivia and particularly in Chile).

My academic career combines teaching and research in applied conservation issues, conservation medicine, animal welfare and conflicts between people and wildlife. I also leaded for 10 years a minor in Environmental science in our University. In 2005, we launched the first MSc programme in Conservation and Wildlife Management within a programme of Natural Resources. This is a 2 year graduate course that aims to prepare a multidisciplinary research team that works in flora, fauna, conservation and protected areas management. My duties as head of the programme include lecturing, field expeditions, supervision of thesis and fundraising for the projects and students”. I created the Department of Ecosystems & The Environment and a new undergraduate major in environmental management as head of Department in 2010. I am actively engage in long term projects as member of the center for local development, center for the Atacama desert and University boards related to natural resources and the environment (Qualitas UC, COPEC-UC Foundation for Natural Resources, Project Saint Francis)”

Dr Bonacic was awarded his professorship at The Pontifical Catholic University in 2015 and soon after began his sabbatical sponsored as visiting professor by The Tinker Foundation in The Nelson Institute at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, USA.

Professor Bonacic was awarded a prize for his contribution to Veterinary Sciences by the Association of Chilean Veterinarians in 2017.

Between March 2016 and March 2018 was the director of the Department of Ecosystems & The Environment at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.