Survey Coordinator, Lion Program
Starting in 2009, Philipp Henschel joined Panthera full-time as the Lion Program Regional Coordinator within West and Central Africa. Originally from Germany, Philipp is now based in Gabon, where he has lived for more than ten years, and from where he currently fulfills his position as Panthera’s Lion Survey Coordinator. Most recently, Philipp conducted lion field surveys in the Sahelian savannahs of Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, and further surveys are planned in Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania.
Read the survey results: Lion status updates from five range countries in West and Central Africa
Prior to joining Panthera, Philipp held a long list of positions within the wildlife conservation field, mainly in Central Africa. Starting in 1998 in Gabon, he began work as a Biological Advisor for the World Wide Fund for Nature before joining the ranks of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). In 2000-2006, Philipp served as the Principal Investigator in the WCS Great Cats Program’s Forest Leopard Study. During this period, most of his work focused on leopards, a wild cat that has received little scientific attention in Central Africa. However, since 2003, he also repeatedly acted as Expedition Leader for WCS and Panthera surveys on lion populations in the forest-savannah landscapes in Gabon, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In 2008, Philipp earned his Ph.D. in Conservation Biology at the University of Göttingen in Germany, having devoted his dissertation to the conservation biology of the leopard in Gabon. Over the years, Philipp has contributed to over ten articles and book chapters, and his extensive scientific research has been funded through a variety of grants and awards from the German Academic Exchange Service, the Global Carnivore Program, and the Society of Conservation Biology. Having completed over 30 dives, Philipp is a big fan of scuba diving and also enjoys wildlife photography and travelling.
Selected Popular Articles by Dr. Henschel
- Henschel, P. (March, 2011). The race to save Nigeria's last lions. Daily Trust.
- Henschel, P. (Autumn 2010). Brief Encounters. Gabon Magazine.
- Henschel, P. (Autumn 2010). Brèves rencontres. Gabon Magazine. (French)
Click here to find more popular articles by Panthera staff.
Selected Scientific Publications and Reports by Dr. Henschel
- Lindsey, P., Balme, G., Becker, M., Begg, C., Bento, C., Bocchino, C., Dickman, A., Diggle, R., Eves, H., Henschel, P., et. al (2012) Illegal Hunting and the Bush-meat Trade in Savanna Africa: Drivers, Impacts & Solutions to Address the Problem. Panthera/Zoological Society of London/Wildlife Conservation Society report
- Henschel, P., Azani, D., Burton, C., Malanda, G., Saidu, Y., Sam, M., & Hunter, L. (2010). Lion status updates from five range countries in West and Central Africa. CATNews, 52: 34-39.
- Henschel, P. (2008). The conservation biology of the leopard Panthera pardus in Gabon: Status, threats and strategies for conservation. PhD Dissertation: University of Göttingen.
- Hayward, M.W., Henschel, P., O'Brien, J., Hofmeyr, M., Balme, G., and Kerley, G.I.H. (2006). Prey preferences of the leopard (Panthera pardus). Journal of Zoology, 2:298-313.
- Henschel, P., Abernethy, K.A., & White, L.J.T. (2005). Leopard food habits in the Lopé National Park, Gabon, Central Africa. African Journal of Ecology, 43:21-28.
Click here to find more Scientific Publications and Reports by Panthera staff.
Selected Technical Manuals by Dr. Henschel
- Henschel, P., & Ray, J. (2003). Leopards in African Rainforests: Survey and Monitoring Techniques. Wildlife Conservation Society.
- Henschel, P., & Ray, J. (2003). Léopards dans les forêts pluviales d’Afrique : Méthodes de relevé et de surveillance. Wildlife Conservation Society. (French)
- Henschel, P. Large carnivore track identification sheet.
Click here to find more Technical Manuals by Panthera staff.
Selected Blog posts featuring Dr. Henschel
- January 24, 2011, Panthera Lion Program Survey Coordinator Consulted on Large Wildlife Trafficking Case in Gabon
Panthera Press Releases featuring Dr. Henschel
