Laurie Marker
Early Life and Education
Laurie Marker was born on April 16, 1954, in Upstate New York. She developed a deep love for animals at a young age, which eventually led her to pursue a career in wildlife conservation. Marker earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh and later completed her Doctorate in Zoology from the University of Oxford.
Career
Marker began her career in the 1970s at the Oregon Zoo in Portland, where she co-founded the zoo's cheetah breeding program. This program was one of the first of its kind and played a significant role in cheetah conservation efforts. In 1991, Marker moved to Namibia to establish the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), an organization dedicated to saving the cheetah in the wild. As the Executive Director of CCF, Marker has led numerous research and conservation projects that have significantly contributed to our understanding of cheetah biology, genetics, and ecology.
Contributions to Cheetah Conservation
Marker's work has been instrumental in cheetah conservation. She pioneered new methodologies in the study of cheetahs, including the use of non-invasive genetic techniques for population monitoring. Marker also developed the Livestock Guarding Dog program, which has significantly reduced human-cheetah conflict by training dogs to protect livestock from cheetah attacks.
Awards and Recognition
Marker's dedication to cheetah conservation has earned her numerous awards and recognition. She was awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement in 2010, and in 2018, she received the Einstein Medal for her scientific contributions to cheetah conservation. Marker was also named a Hero for the Planet by Time in 2000.
Personal Life
Marker currently resides in Namibia, where she continues her work with the Cheetah Conservation Fund. She is an avid animal lover and spends much of her free time caring for the animals at the CCF.
