Tadeusz Vetulani
Encyclopedia
Dr. Tadeusz Bolesław Vetulani (March 13, 1897 – February 24, 1952) was a Polish agriculturalist and biologist, associate professor of Adam Mickiewicz University in animal husbandry
. He was a pioneer of biodiversity research in Poland and conducted notable research into forest tarpan
and the Polish koniks, launching restoration and breeding schemes.
and Elżbieta Kunachowicz, and brother of Kazimierz, a professor of Lvov University, Adam
, a professor of Jagiellonian University
, Zygmunt, Maria, and Elżbieta.
In the years 1915-1916 he studied philosophy at the University of Vienna
, and in the years 1919-1922 at Jagiellonian University in agriculture. In the years 1922-1929 he published work on the Polish pony (Badania nad konikiem polskim z okolic Biłgoraja and Dalsze badania nad konikiem polskim). He is credited with introducing the term "Polish pony" or Polish konik into the hippological literature in the mid-1920s.Zbigniew Jaworski of the Polish Academy of Sciences
says that "based on his research and observations, he hypothesized that a forest variety of the tarpan
(Equus cab. gmelini Ant., forma silvatica Vet.) had split off from the populations living in the steppes of Eastern Europe and had survived into the mid 18th century in the lands of Poland, Lithuania, and Prussia."
In 1926, Vetulani received a doctoral degree in agriculture at the Jagiellonian University. Three years later he obtained his degree of associate professor in animal husbandry. From 1931 to 1935 he worked as an associate professor and head of the Department of Animal Breeding at the Stefan Batory University in Vilnius
. In February 1936, he founded a reserve and restoration scheme in Bialowieza Forest involving the breeding of Polish koniks, putting his early hypothesis to practice. Helmut Hemmer says that "Tadeusz Vetulani purchased animals with particularly high resemblance to tarpans and subjected them to a selection programme carried out in the Institute for Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy."
From 1938, Vetulani was co-editor of the German journal "Zeitschrift für Züchtungsbiologie." In 1939 he represented Poland in Zurich
in an international conference on breeding.
During World War II Vetulani lived in Krakow
, working as a clerk in the Polish Red Cross
from 1940-1943. He was a spokesperson for the organization against the occupation authorities. He also aided in the care of Polish prisoners of war. Vetulani rejected all proposals for collaboration with the Nazis and also refused to join the committee appointed to audit the Katyn graves, not wanting to serve the German propaganda.
Between 1945-1952 worked in restoration and increasing the breeding of the Polish pony. In 1949 he received the full title of Professor of Animal Husbandry.
On June 5, 1949 he married Marie Godlewska. In 1950 their son was born, Zygmunt.
Tadeusz Vetulani died of a heart attack on February 24, 1952. He had fainted while working in a laboratory in Krakow during a scientific trip, and died the same day.
Animal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
. He was a pioneer of biodiversity research in Poland and conducted notable research into forest tarpan
Tarpan
Tarpan is an extinct subspecies of wild horse. The last individual of this subspecies died in captivity in Russia in 1909....
and the Polish koniks, launching restoration and breeding schemes.
Biography
Vetulani was born in Sanok in 1897, the son of RomanRoman Vetulani
Roman Vetulani was a Polish high school professor, secretary of "Sokół" gymnastics organization chapter in Sanok, honorary member of Macierz Ziemi Cieszyńskiej since 1898.- Biography :...
and Elżbieta Kunachowicz, and brother of Kazimierz, a professor of Lvov University, Adam
Adam Vetulani
Adam Joachim Vetulani was a Polish historian of medieval law and canonist, professor of Jagiellonian University, a member of Polish Academy of Learning. He was the son of Roman and Elżbieta Kunachowicz, brother of Kazimierz, professor of Lvov University, Tadeusz, professor of animal husbandry,...
, a professor of Jagiellonian University
Jagiellonian University
The Jagiellonian University was established in 1364 by Casimir III the Great in Kazimierz . It is the oldest university in Poland, the second oldest university in Central Europe and one of the oldest universities in the world....
, Zygmunt, Maria, and Elżbieta.
In the years 1915-1916 he studied philosophy at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
, and in the years 1919-1922 at Jagiellonian University in agriculture. In the years 1922-1929 he published work on the Polish pony (Badania nad konikiem polskim z okolic Biłgoraja and Dalsze badania nad konikiem polskim). He is credited with introducing the term "Polish pony" or Polish konik into the hippological literature in the mid-1920s.Zbigniew Jaworski of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Polish Academy of Sciences
The Polish Academy of Sciences, headquartered in Warsaw, is one of two Polish institutions having the nature of an academy of sciences.-History:...
says that "based on his research and observations, he hypothesized that a forest variety of the tarpan
Tarpan
Tarpan is an extinct subspecies of wild horse. The last individual of this subspecies died in captivity in Russia in 1909....
(Equus cab. gmelini Ant., forma silvatica Vet.) had split off from the populations living in the steppes of Eastern Europe and had survived into the mid 18th century in the lands of Poland, Lithuania, and Prussia."
In 1926, Vetulani received a doctoral degree in agriculture at the Jagiellonian University. Three years later he obtained his degree of associate professor in animal husbandry. From 1931 to 1935 he worked as an associate professor and head of the Department of Animal Breeding at the Stefan Batory University in Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. In February 1936, he founded a reserve and restoration scheme in Bialowieza Forest involving the breeding of Polish koniks, putting his early hypothesis to practice. Helmut Hemmer says that "Tadeusz Vetulani purchased animals with particularly high resemblance to tarpans and subjected them to a selection programme carried out in the Institute for Genetics and Animal Breeding of the Polish Academy."
From 1938, Vetulani was co-editor of the German journal "Zeitschrift für Züchtungsbiologie." In 1939 he represented Poland in Zurich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
in an international conference on breeding.
During World War II Vetulani lived in Krakow
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, working as a clerk in the Polish Red Cross
Polish Red Cross
Polish Red Cross is the Polish member of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It was founded in 1919 by Dr. Benjamin Reschovsky of Warsaw City Hospital and recognized by the Red Cross on July 24th 1919, and its first president was Paweł Sapieha....
from 1940-1943. He was a spokesperson for the organization against the occupation authorities. He also aided in the care of Polish prisoners of war. Vetulani rejected all proposals for collaboration with the Nazis and also refused to join the committee appointed to audit the Katyn graves, not wanting to serve the German propaganda.
Between 1945-1952 worked in restoration and increasing the breeding of the Polish pony. In 1949 he received the full title of Professor of Animal Husbandry.
On June 5, 1949 he married Marie Godlewska. In 1950 their son was born, Zygmunt.
Tadeusz Vetulani died of a heart attack on February 24, 1952. He had fainted while working in a laboratory in Krakow during a scientific trip, and died the same day.