Team Bio

Our team combines field experience, advanced research methods, and local knowledge to ensure the success of this project. With a shared commitment to conservation, understanding of the target species, and technical expertise, we are well-equipped to implement the research. Our strong connection with local culture is key for engaging communities in conservation and fostering mutual understanding among stakeholders. This approach helps build lasting conservation awareness.

Antonio Sampedro

Antonio Sampedro is a research officer at the Himalayan Wolves Project and PhD candidate at the University of Oviedo, Spain. Antonio is a wildlife biologist specialized in Animal Biology and a graduate of the University of Santiago de Compostela. He has worked as a Tibetan language translator for more than a decade and has maintained strong connections with Tibetan-Himalayan culture throughout this time. His main research interests include carnivore ecology, habitat suitability under global warming, and distribution patterns of Himalayan wolves and other Himalayan species. He is trained in spatial modeling and statistics and is skilled in fieldwork methodology. He has collaborated with several research institutions, including the University of La Laguna and the Wildlife Rescue Center of Tahonilla (Tenerife). His combined experience as a field biologist and Tibetan language translator provides a strong foundation for engaging in conservation activities across the Himalayas.

Geraldine Werhahn

Dr. Geraldine Werhahn is Director of Himalayan Wolves Project and Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Canid Specialist Group and member of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. Geraldine is a wildlife biologist and conservationist dedicated to every element of the natural world. Her special interests are canids and their function in maintaining healthy ecosystems, their intelligence, and their power to trigger human emotions in various cultures. She completed her DPhil thesis on the phylogeny, ecology, and conservation of Himalayan wolves with WildCRU at the University of Oxford, UK. Geraldine started the Himalayan Wolves Project in 2013 to protect Himalayan wolves and the fauna and flora of their high-altitude habitats. As a wildlife biologist she provides solid science as an argument for conservation, and as a human animal she lives the love for nature by a compassionate way of life.

José Vicente López-Bao

Conservation scientist at the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) (based at the Biodiversity Research Institute, a mixed center that includes researchers from CSIC, the Oviedo University, and the Principality of Asturias). He is interested in the integration of quantitative, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to face conservation challenges. With particular interest in human-wildlife interactions, and large carnivores, such as wolves and bears, and other megafauna in human-dominated landscapes. Member of the Scientific Committee advising the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge and the Canid Specialist Group of the IUCN/SSC. His research has been published in several multidisciplinary and conservation-related journals.

Prakash Adhikari

Natural Resource Conservation Assistant (NRCA) at the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) under the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). His main interests include wildlife conservation, botany, and ecological monitoring techniques. He has collaborated on multiple camera trap projects in the region, contributing to research on Himalayan wildlife. Prakash has extensive knowledge of the local culture and landscapes, which enhances his ability to support conservation initiatives. He is also trained in GIS, allowing him to apply spatial analysis in his work.

Bishnu Achhami

Bishnu Achhami is a conservation biologist and Project Officer at the Small Mammals Conservation and Research Foundation in Kathmandu, Nepal. He holds an M.Sc. in Zoology from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and has extensive experience in wildlife research and conservation. His work focuses on small mammals, community-based conservation, and human-wildlife interactions. Bishnu has served as Principal Investigator on multiple projects, including community engagement initiatives for musk deer conservation in the Manaslu Conservation Area. He has also contributed to environmental clean-up efforts, primate conflict mitigation, and pangolin habitat monitoring. His research interests include biodiversity conservation, species ecology, and the role of local communities in conservation efforts. In addition to fieldwork, Bishnu is skilled in GIS, R programming, and research communication. He has authored several scientific publications on gastrointestinal parasites in wildlife species. His expertise in both research and community outreach makes him a valuable contributor to conservation efforts in Nepal.