Dr. Alan Rabinowitz

Dr. Alan Rabinowitz is director for science and exploration for the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society.  He has traveled extensively, concentrating his research efforts in Belize, Borneo, Taiwan, Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma).  He has studied jaguars, clouded leopards, tigers and other large mammal species.  His work in Belize resulted in the world’s first jaguar sanctuary; his work in Taiwan resulted in the establishment of the country’s largest nature reserve; his work in Thailand resulted in the first field research on Indochinese tigers in what was to become the region’s first World Heritage Site; and his work in Myanmar has led to the creation of the country’s first marine national park, its first Himalayan national park, and a 2,500 square-mile wildlife sanctuary -- the nation’s largest protected area. 

Rabinowitz working with Taron pygmies in Hkakabo Razi.

Dr. Rabinowitz’s most recent research has taken him to rugged, unexplored mountain ranges in the Annamite Mountains of Laos, and the eastern Himalayan Mountains of northern Myanmar.  In northern Myanmar, Dr. Rabinowitz discovered the leaf deer, a species new to science, and one of the smallest deer species in the world. He also made contact with the Taron, a group of Mongolian pygmies who are near extinction and virtually unknown by the outside world. These discoveries are featured in “Beyond the Last Village,” Dr. Rabinowitz’s fourth book. He has also published over 50 scientific and popular articles.