African Wildlife & Environment Issue 77 FINAL ISSUE

ECO HERO

JOHN DAWSON SKINNER A Legendary Figure of African Mammal Research

John was born in Johannesburg on 17 September 1932. He attended school at St John’s College in Houghton. He took his first degree, in Animal Science, at the then University of Natal, before spending some years at Mara Research Station, (now in Limpopo Province), where he was intimately involved with the development of the highly successful Bonsmara cattle breed. After some years spent here he undertook postgraduate studies at the University of Pretoria, the quality of which led to him being offered the chance to read for a PhD at Cambridge University on the reproductive endocrinology of livestock. On his return to South Africa, he was appointed as senior professional officer in the Division of Reproductive Physiology at the Irene Animal Production Institute. Already at this stage his research commitment was legendary. He would, on a Friday afternoon, drive to Bloemhof to work on Springbok

Tireless, enthusiastic, eminent, concerned, caring, competitive, outstanding – these are all expressions that will forever remind many of us of John Dawson Skinner. John, the slightly ruddy ‘Englishman’ was keen on a game of squash, fond of good food, wine andwhisky, enthusiastic about the talent of youth, and had the vision to nurture excellence through recognition of hard work.

Jan Nel

John Skinner with Koalas, around 1980. Photograph courtesy Dr Donal Skinner.

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