Dr. Paul Boyle, a well-known champion of protecting and preserving Earth’s remarkable and endangered species, has been appointed as national director of the American Humane Conservation programme. This first of its kind programme focuses on the welfare, well-being and demonstrably humane treatment of the millions of animals living in zoos, aquariums, and conservation centres.
American Humane, the United States’ first national humane organisation and the largest certifier of animal welfare in the world, is operating the programme, which is considered the gold standard in helping ensure the welfare of these vitally important creatures by enforcing comprehensive and rigorous science-based criteria developed by an independent Scientific Advisory Committee comprised of world-renowned leaders in the fields of animal science, animal behaviour, animal ethics, and field conservation.
Dr. Boyle served has occupied several key positions, including Senior Vice President for Conservation & Education at the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), which manages the accreditation of zoological institutions serving 200 million people annually, as Executive Director of the New York Aquarium and its Osborn Laboratories, part of the Wildlife Conservation Society, and as a key strategist working internationally with AZA institutions, the European AZA, the Australasian AZA, and the World AZA on conservation, environmental education, policy, and public engagement efforts. He led a nationwide team of conservation and wildlife professionals in creating the scientific framework for a new division of AZA called SAFE—Saving Animals From Extinction.
Dr. Boyle took a Bachelor’s in Biology at Northeastern University, a Master’s in Environmental Engineering and a Doctorate in Applied Environmental Sciences from Harvard University. He has also completed the Executive Management Programme at the Wharton Business School.
“Animals worldwide are facing what scientists are calling a Sixth Mass Extinction,” says American Humane President and CEO Dr. Robin Ganzert. “If we are to preserve the legacy and rich diversity of life on Earth it is critical that we rally the best and the brightest to work together with leading zoos and aquariums, which are acting as modern-day arks of hope for so many remarkable, threatened and disappearing species. We are extremely pleased and honored to have a global leader such as Paul Boyle as a leader of this vitally important programme.”