Carl B. Koford
Encyclopedia
Carl Buckingham Koford was an American biologist who is known for his research work on the behavior of the California Condor
. He attended the Piedmont High School and studied at the University of Washington
. Koford began his field work about the California Condor in March 1939. More than 400 days until June 1941 he spend with the condors. During World War II he interrupted his studies to serve in the U.S. Navy. In 1946 his observations on the condors continued. In 1953 he published the report "The California Condor" where he gave a first estimation of the world population of about 60 individuals. In the 1950s and again in the 1970s he went to South America
where he made studies on species like the Vicuña
, the Jaguar
, the Ocelot
or the Jaguarundi
. After rumours about the survival of some individuals of the thought to be extinct Mexican grizzly bear Koford went to Mexico
in 1969 but he failed to rediscover this bear.
After Koford's death in 1979 the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
at Berkeley established the Carl B. Koford Memorial Fund in 1980 to support field research on vertebrates. Koford's Grass Mouse
(Akodon kofordi), a rodent
from Peru
, was discovered in the 1980s and named in his honour.
California Condor
The California Condor is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. Currently, this condor inhabits only the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, and coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California...
. He attended the Piedmont High School and studied at the University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. Koford began his field work about the California Condor in March 1939. More than 400 days until June 1941 he spend with the condors. During World War II he interrupted his studies to serve in the U.S. Navy. In 1946 his observations on the condors continued. In 1953 he published the report "The California Condor" where he gave a first estimation of the world population of about 60 individuals. In the 1950s and again in the 1970s he went to South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
where he made studies on species like the Vicuña
Vicuña
The vicuña or vicugna is one of two wild South American camelids, along with the guanaco, which live in the high alpine areas of the Andes. It is a relative of the llama, and is now believed to share a wild ancestor with domesticated alpacas, which are raised for their fibre...
, the Jaguar
Jaguar
The jaguar is a big cat, a feline in the Panthera genus, and is the only Panthera species found in the Americas. The jaguar is the third-largest feline after the tiger and the lion, and the largest in the Western Hemisphere. The jaguar's present range extends from Southern United States and Mexico...
, the Ocelot
Ocelot
The ocelot , pronounced /ˈɒsəˌlɒt/, also known as the dwarf leopard or McKenney's wildcat is a wild cat distributed over South and Central America and Mexico, but has been reported as far north as Texas and in Trinidad, in the Caribbean...
or the Jaguarundi
Jaguarundi
The jaguarundi is a small-sized wild cat native to Central and South America. In 2002, the IUCN classified the jaguarundi as Least Concern as it is likely that no conservation units, with the probable exception of the mega-reserves of the Amazon basin could sustain long-term viable populations. It...
. After rumours about the survival of some individuals of the thought to be extinct Mexican grizzly bear Koford went to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
in 1969 but he failed to rediscover this bear.
After Koford's death in 1979 the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
Museum of Vertebrate Zoology
The Museum of Vertebrate Zoology is a natural history museum at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. The museum was founded by philanthropist Annie Montague Alexander in 1908...
at Berkeley established the Carl B. Koford Memorial Fund in 1980 to support field research on vertebrates. Koford's Grass Mouse
Koford's Grass Mouse
Koford's Grass Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae.It is found only in Peru. It is named after American biologist Carl B. Koford.-References:...
(Akodon kofordi), a rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
from Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, was discovered in the 1980s and named in his honour.
Publications (selected)
- Koford, C.B. 1953. The California condor. National Audubon Society, Washington, DC. Research Report No. 4.
- Koford, C.B. 1957. The Vicuña and the Puna. Ecol Monogr 27: 153–219
- Koford, C.B. 1958. Prairie dogs, white-faces and blue gramma. Wildlife Monogr., 3:1-78.
- Koford, C.B. 1969. The last of the Mexican grizzly bear. IUCN Bulletin 2:95.
- Koford, C.B. 1973. Spotted Cats in Latin America: An Interim Report. ORYX 12(1):37-39, 1973a.
- Koford, C.B. 1973. Project 694. Status Survey of Jaguar and Ocelot in Tropical America. WORLD WILDLIFE YEARBOOK 1972-1973. 215-219.8, 1973b.
- Koford, C.B. 1976. Latin American Cats: economic values and future prospects. THE WORLD CATS. 3(1)
Further reading
- John Nielsen (2006): Condor - To the Brink and Back - The Life and Times of One Giant Bird HarperCollins Publishers, New York. ISBN 0-06-008862-0