Schaller, << SHAH luhr, >> George Beals (1933-…), is an American zoologist known for his writings on endangered species of animals. He has studied and photographed animals in many parts of the world.
Schaller is best known for his studies of large mammals. He has observed the behavior of lions in Tanzania, mountain gorillas in Zaire—now the Democratic Republic of the Congo—and Uganda, tigers in India, and giant pandas in China. He also has studied white pelicans in Wyoming, caribou in Alaska, and sea otters in California. He watches the animals daily as they hunt, eat, and care for their young.
Schaller’s studies have provided valuable information on the conditions needed for the survival of endangered species. This information can be used in planning programs to protect the animals’ environment.
Schaller has written many books and articles on animal behavior. His book The Serengeti Lion: A Study of Predator-Prey Relations (1972) was awarded the 1973 National Book Award for the sciences. Schaller’s other books include The Year of the Gorilla (1964), Stones of Silence: Journeys in the Himalaya (1980), The Giant Pandas of Wolong (1985), The Last Panda (1993), and Wildlife of the Tibetan Steppe (1998). He was a coauthor of Giant Pandas in the Wild (2002).
Schaller was born on May 26, 1933, in Berlin, Germany. He graduated from the University of Alaska in 1955 and earned a Ph.D. degree at the University of Wisconsin in 1962. In 1972, Schaller became a zoologist at the New York Zoological Society. In 1988, he became science director at the society, which is now called the Wildlife Conservation Society.
