Rate My Professor David Macdonald

Professor David Macdonald CBE, FRSE is Professor of Wildlife Conservation at the University of Oxford in the Department of Biology. He earned a BA in 1972, MA in 1973, DPhil in 1977 and DSc in 2004, all from the University of Oxford. His background is in the behavioural ecology of mammals, and his research spans taxa from mammals to moths while incorporating interdisciplinary approaches that include environmental economics and the social sciences. Much of his work addresses conflicts between people and wildlife, including predation, infectious disease and invasive species, with long-term studies on species such as badgers, lions, mink and Ethiopian wolves. He has particular expertise with the Carnivora, including research on Scottish wildcats, lions, tigers, leopards, pumas and jaguars, as well as the impact of logging on Bornean felids. His current focus includes delivery of land-use planning through the ConnectingLandscapes Decision Support System.

Professor Macdonald founded the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) in 1986 and serves as its Founding Director; the unit undertakes original research on fundamental biology relevant to solving practical problems of wildlife conservation and environmental management. He has held a Fellowship at Lady Margaret Hall since 1986, the first in any university dedicated to research in biological conservation. He is Chair of Action for Conservation, a Trustee of Lion Landscapes and Chester Zoo, and a Vice President of the Wildlife Trusts. He has previously chaired the Darwin Advisory Committee, Natural England’s Science Advisory Committee and Earthwatch, and served as Vice President of the Zoological Society of London and the RSPCA, among other roles. In 2025 he was awarded the Linnean Medal for contributions to science.