BILL BRANCH

BILL BRANCH was born in London in 1946, and gained B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees at Southampton University, specializing in molecular biology. In 1971 he moved to South Africa to undertake clinical studies on liver cancer. Stimulated by the many beautiful reptiles and amphibians that were common in the field, their study became a consuming passion and then a job. He was employed for over 32 years as the herpetologist at the Port Elizabeth Museum, and has published over 220 scientific articles, as well as numerous popular articles and books. The latter include the Red Data Book for endangered South African reptiles and amphibians (1988), a field guide to southern African reptiles (1988, revised 1998), Dangerous Snakes of Africa (co-authored with Steve Spawls), and two photographic guides to the reptiles of Southern and Eastern Africa. He chaired the IUCN SSC African Reptile Group (1997-2003), and is currently a co-editor of the revised South African Reptile Atlas and Conservation Assessment (currently in publication). In 2001 he was invited to present the “Distinguished Herpetologist” keynote address at the annual herpetological conference in the USA, and in 2004 was only the 4th recipient of the “Exceptional Contribution to Herpetology” award of the Herpetological Association of Africa. He has served as an Honorary Research Professor at the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg), and has recently been appointed as a Research Associate at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. He retired in mid-2011, but was recognised as Curator Emeritus Herpetology at the museum, has kept his office and facilities, still studies herps daily, but just doesn’t get paid to do it anymore…

His belief is that it is better to be a “Jack of all Trades” rather than a “Master of One,” and the taxonomy, biogeography and conservation of local reptiles form his main fields of interest. In recent years he has described nearly 30 new species, including geckos, lacertids, chameleons, tortoises and adders, as well as described numerous new genera, tribes, subfamilies, and even a new family. He has been invited by various NGOs (Smithsonian Institute, Conservation International, Fauna and Flora Preservation Trust, etc.) to undertake herpetological surveys in remote parts of Africa, and has undertaken field work in 21 African countries. When not herping, his other passions are succulent plants, bird-watching, photography, and carp fishing!