Iroro Tanshi

Iroro Tanshi (born 1984 or 1985)[1] is a Nigerian tropical ecologist and conservationist who studies the ecology and diversity of African bats. She is a co-founder of, the Small Mammal Conservation Organisation (SMACON), a Nigerian NGO, where she is director of research programs and mentors students and peers in species conservation.[2][3]

Iroro Tanshi
Born1984 or 1985 (age 37–38)
NationalityNigerian
Occupation(s)Conservationist, ecologist
Employer(s)University Of Benin
Small Mammal Conservation Organisation
AwardsWhitley Award (2021)
Future for Nature Award (2020)

Education

Tanshi obtained a degree in environmental science and a master's degree in environmental quality management at the University of Benin in Benin City, Nigeria. She then studied at the University of Leeds in England, where she obtained a master's in biodiversity conservation before undertaking research with Tigga Kingston at Texas Tech University in the US, where she was awarded a PhD in 2021.[4][5]

Career

Tanshi discovered the only population of the short-tailed roundleaf bat (Hipposideros curtus) in Nigeria, near the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, and saved it from extinction.[6][7] Tanshi also protected Nigeria's largest colony of straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) from a government proposal to destroy their roost tree.

Tanshi was recognized for discovering bat species in Nigeria that were last seen 45 years ago. Her 'Zero Wildfire Campaign', engages local people to protect critical habitats for this bat species is yielding results and is helping bring back this species from the brink of extinction.

In parallel with her work at SMACON, Tanshi works as a lecturer at the University of Benin.[2]

Awards

In 2020, Tanshi won a Future for Nature award from the Future for Nature Foundation, in recognition of her pioneering work discovering bat species. She was the first African woman to win the award.[3][1][8]

In 2021, Tanshi won a Whitley Award issued by the Whitley Fund for Nature.[9][10]

References
  1. "Nigerian Biologist wins prestigious international prize for nature conservation". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  2. "Mentors and Facilitators". Small Mammal Conservation Organisation. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  3. "Iroro Tanshi". Future For Nature. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  4. "Women in Bat Conservation: Iroro Tanshi". Bat Conservation International. 3 June 2015.
  5. "Plenary Speakers & Biographies". International Bat Research Conference. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  6. "Meet Nigerian lady who won 2021 Whitley Awards for saving short-tailed roundleaf bat from extinction". Tribune Online. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  7. Unah, Linus (30 April 2020). "Young Nigerian researcher goes to bat against forest fires". Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  8. glaziang (2020-12-02). "Nigeria's Iroro Tanshi Becomes 1st African Woman to Win Prestigious International Prize For Nature Conservation". Glazia. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  9. "Nigerian conservationist wins £40,000 award". Punch Newspapers. 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2022-03-12.
  10. "Meet Nigerian lady who won 2021 Whitley Awards for saving short-tailed roundleaf bat from extinction". Tribune Online. 2021-08-12. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
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