22 October 2015

Meeting held between Leyla Aliyeva and the Director of WildCRU, Professor David Macdonald

On 21 October 2015, the founder and head of IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva received Professor David Macdonald, Director of Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) within the University of Oxford’s Department of Zoology, as well as the Unit’s manager Dr. Dawn Burnham.

 

During the meeting, Leyla Aliyeva thoroughly informed the guest about the activities of IDEA Public Union, particularly the organization's initiatives in the area of conservation and restoration of Azerbaijan's endemic fauna species. Leyla Aliyeva noted that, within the framework of the project implemented by IDEA Public Union entitled “Reintroduction of gazelles into their historical habitat in the Caucasus” of IDEA, 150 gazelles were released into their historical habitats on the territory of Azerbaijan and Georgia.

 

Furthermore, the guests were informed about the work carried out by IDEA Public Union, jointly with its local and international partners, aimed at restoring populations of Caucasian leopards in Azerbaijan. Leyla Aliyeva said that she was saddened by the news of the killing of a leopard in the territory of the Astara district that had taken place in early October of the present year. As pointed out, the incident is yet another proof of the existing necessity to strengthen efforts aimed at protecting this rare animal.

 

As noted by Leyla Aliyeva, along with the protection of endangered animal species, with a view to further enrich our country’s biodiversity, IDEA Public Union is also planning activities on the reintroduction of the extinct species.

 

Professor D. Macdonald noted that he followed and appreciated the activities of IDEA. He spoke about the projects realized by WildCRU relating to the study and conservation of endangered animals species on the 6 continents of the world. Over the last 30 years of its operation, WildCRU has turned into a leading scientific center specializing in wildlife.

 

 

In the course of the meeting, prospects for cooperation between IDEA and the University of Oxford were discussed. In this regard, an agreement was reached on the admission of one student from Azerbaijan to study biodiversity at the University of Oxford in the following year.  

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