I have received the good news that I have been elected as a Fellow of the The Linnean Society of London - the world's oldest active biological society. It's not a great image, but you can just about see that the president's chair is backed with crocodile skin.

I am delighted with this insightful appraisal of my book Discovering the #Okapi published by @hopkinspress.bsky.social from a mentor & friend E.J. Milner-Gulland, now also an #okapi fan www.linkedin.com/posts/e-j-mi...

The 100-yr-old S African game reserve and Ramsar wetland of international importance dying in plain sight, attempts to save it ensnared in bureaucracy www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

We are looking for a 3-year postdoc to work on a self-defined research project in environmental history that places electronic or digital technologies at the center of its historical inquiry. More details in the announcement linked to below. #envhist

I'm delighted to say that after years of work we have published a definition of “human-wildlife coexistence” in a briefing document now available on our IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict and #Coexistence Specialist Group (HWCCSG) Library here: www.hwctf.org/policies

Now available for preorder (publishes in June 2026): Unsettling Extinction, edited by Roman Bartosch, Ursula Heise & Kate Rigby www.bloomsbury.com/uk/unsettlin... I have an article in this called "Extinction as Cultural Heritage"

My book Discovering the Okapi is now officially published in South Africa the SADC countries and Kenya now, in an affordable paperback edition by Wits University Press. More info on this edition of my #okapi book here witspress.co.za/page/detail/...

The first in-depth review of my #okapi book is now out (OA) in Oryx, a lovely review by Chloe Hodgkinson www.cambridge.org/core/journal...

If you like drawing & wild animals, esp. the strangely beautiful okapi, join us for this live online drawing class. I've asked that my fee goes to Okapi Conservation Project. So help #okapi while learning about them from me & how to draw them from Jennie: wildlifedrawing.eventcube.io/events/93842...

Lovely idea here are some reds from my home study

I'm pleased to see the @linneansociety.bsky.social have posted a video of my talk on Discovering the Okapi on their YouTube channel, here youtu.be/MCOHAGII0a0?...

What counted as knowledge in Britain’s age of exploration...and who decided? On Wed 4 Feb, @edwinrose.bsky.social explores how natural knowledge was shaped by travel, collecting, and exchange - and whose voices were left out. 6–8pm · Burlington House Find out more: buff.ly/ypMIRvt

Join us later today for an okapi talk

Join us this Friday lunchtime for an online talk with @s-pooley.bsky.social exploring the remarkable history of the okapi: a rainforest giraffid that became a symbol of scientific discovery, colonial power, and modern conservation challenges. buff.ly/9Xr2iCf Fri 23 January | 12:30pm to 1:30pm

📍 Online Lecture 📆 Jan 23, 12:30 -1:30 ✨ Join Simon Pooley as he discusses the okapi, a rainforest giraffid which has become a symbol of scientific curiosity, colonial power, and conservation challenges. Grab your free tickets here: buff.ly/CGq6rfy

What counted as knowledge in Britain’s age of exploration...and who decided? On Wed 4 Feb, @edwinrose.bsky.social explores how natural knowledge was shaped by travel, collecting, and exchange - and whose voices were left out. 6–8pm · Burlington House Find out more: buff.ly/ypMIRvt

I had fun completing Marshal Zeringue's page 99 test, based on Ford Madox Ford's assertion that "Open the book to page ninety-nine and read, and the quality of the whole will be revealed to you." Read more on what I discuss on p.99 of my book here: page99test.blogspot.com/2025/12/simo...

This article on human-wildlife #coexistencs & ethics, justice and representation is now available as Open Access. conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.... I'm grateful to Birkbeck for support: if you've taught at research uni big beasts & moved to smaller institutions, you know the challenges

My #okapi story is published in The Scotsman today. Best viewed in the print edition, but you can read it here: www.pressreader.com/uk/the-scots...

On Friday 13 Feb I’ll be at the perfect place to talk about extinction in natural history museums: Oxford University Museum of Natural History @morethanadodo.bsky.social. Free tickets available for “Dead as a Dodo: The Haunted Heritage of Extinction” oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/dead-a... #extinction

📚 Nature lovers, we've got your next great read! Our team has curated a list of captivating books that transport you to distant lands and tackle big conservation ideas. From graphic memoirs to novels set on remote islands, these stories celebrate the beauty and complexity of our natural world.

It is nice to see Discovering the Okapi is still a "hot new release" on Amazon.com

I'm looking forward to this! Always good to see an okapi, and I will be sure to mention them, given the chance

Team #okapi - Cat, Ben, Grace, me and Kathryn - at the @nhm-london.bsky.social NHM today, with treasures from their collection. Great to tell visitors about okapi in the museum that made it famous. The library open day received 1500+ visitors!

Looking forward to talking about #okapi at @nhm-london.bsky.social today, where this man gave it its genus name Okapia in 1901

Lovely launch event at ZSL last night, really well organised, and great to see so many familiar friendly faces, including Guy Cowlishaw who stepped up as MC. An informed and engaged audience, as anticipated. Happy to have sold all the books, and greatly enjoyed meeting fellow #okapi fans afterwards

On my way in to London to see students, then do a book launch for Discovering the Okapi at ZSL this evening. I had a visit from this little chap while waiting for my train. Feels encouraging, for some reason.

I'm delighted to be joining Kathryn Rooke and the @nhmlibraryarchives.bsky.social team to talk about their #okapi materials on 5 December. This show will be open 10-16:00, and I'll be on the okapi table at 10-11:00 and 12:00-13:00. Hope to see you there

Just one week left until our launch event with @s-pooley.bsky.social for his book Discovering the Okapi! Join us on Tues 2nd Dec to hear from the author, and learn about ZSL's 125-year-long history with this enigmatic animal. Book now: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/book-launc...

Such a clever montage, assembled before there were photos of wild #okapi, using a photo of okapi territory (with no okapi), and 2 photos of the same taxidermized okapi from different angles. Only one African image of an okapi found to that point-probably made on demand for Lang. Curious.

My response to a comment on my diversity article "#Conservation and #Coexistence at a Crossroads" is now available as early view in Conservation Biology, here: conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/15231739...

Well my Discovering the #Okapi talk is already available - my thanks to @animalhistories.bsky.social and @sochistnathist.bsky.social - you can watch my talk here: youtu.be/Hx1Z2XiETA4?...

Enjoyed discussing my new #okapi book in an online seminar for Animal History Group last week. It was recorded and will at some point be be hosted by @sochistnathist.bsky.social. #animalhistory

Discovering the Okapi ( @hopkinspress.bsky.social) is published today. Drop in online tomorrow to learn about the discovery, collection, study, exhibition & keeping of #okapi, their biology & behaviour, conservation, and what was learned from indigenous peoples. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ahg-semina...

A curious thing I share about #okapi is their long history with the U.S., esp. New York: @amnh.org, Bronx Zoo, @wcs.org. Deals w Belgian Congo, Lang's Congo trip, Gilman's philanthropy, #Warhol & Anne Eisner Putnam's art, & Madison Square Gdns where Mr G, the only circus okapi, died. Book out today

Rare sight on the Thames near me, darters chasing a shoal of fish

These leaves stickered and starred the dull autumn Thames today. Greenish-yellow ash, yellow sycamore with pink-red stems, field maple & white poplar, their undersides startlingly white.

I enjoyed giving this talk at ZSL last week, for Black History Month. Looking forward to my Animal History Group talk on 12 November, which will focus on another major theme in my book. In other good news, I have just heard from Johns Hopkins UP that there is going to be an audiobook.

PhD opportunity: Examining the role of public acceptance on the success of island restoration initiatives 🏝️🐀🤝 w. @rspb.bsky.social * Project outline: e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/project?item... * Deadline: Sunday 14th December 2025 * How to apply: e5-dtp.ed.ac.uk/applications... Happy to answer questions!

Advance copies of Discovering the Okapi have arrived, meaning I've finally seen the back cover of my JHUP book, with the postcard my gradfather sent my mom when she was 10 years old. Very pleased with what JHUP have produced!

I look forward to launching my book at ZSL's Huxley Lecture Theatre on 2nd December. I'll discuss behind the scenes research, in addition to the key topics of my book. I will show images of key characters - human and okapi - from the book, and many in addition to those shown in the book.

I will be giving an Animal History Group seminar on aspects of my forthcoming book Discovering the Okapi: Western Science, Indigenous Knowledge, and the Search for a Rainforest Enigma - online on 12 November at 8pm GMT. Book for this free event here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ahg-semina...

On the 12th of November 2025 @ 8pm (GMT/UTC +0) (note our clocks go back), Simon Pooley (@s-pooley.bsky.social) will be giving a book release talk on DISCOVERING THE OKAPI🦓📙 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ahg-semina...

I enjoyed participating in this #interdisciplinary podcast on #human-animal interactions, ethics, and research. Much to learn from this kind of interaction, here with Birkbeck colleagues Anna Richards (critical animal studies) and Sophia Connell (philosophy). Listen here youtu.be/GniKcOii0ws?...

It is great to get some critical responses to my okapi book. Both are from scholars I greatly respect. I was nervous asking Jonathan Kingdon, as he is such an authority on African mammals - and has told me such interesting things about okapi!

I'll be launching my book Discovering the Okapi at ZSL / London Zoo on December 2nd. This fascinating animal went from being an international sensation, with 15 seconds of fame in the 1980s, to vanishing from public attention. I hope to win back attention for #okapi

Celebrating world giraffe day yesterday, it was good to learn from GCF that some are recovering, but worth remembering the baseline and how little of the original range survives. Of course, their only living relative, the okapi, hangs on only in northeastern DRC.

#Conservation beyond boundaries Starts with my talk on the occupation of #Ndumo Game Reserve (05:30-13:20 mins), the long history of conservation in this region, revealing causes of a classic conservation conflict. Shows key challenges for PAs in S Africa, and beyond. youtu.be/iigNVcOctew?...

Rainy day problem solved. What a beautiful book cover. Wonderful clear writing on complex subjects, told with fascinating, emblematic case studies. Good stuff @jackashby.bsky.social

Join me at Birkbeck University of London, in Bloomsbury, on Friday 6 June to discuss the future of human-wildlife coexistence, whether with badgers or beavers in the UK, or crocs, big cats or elephants in Australia, the Americas, Asia or Africa. Details and booking link here lnkd.in/enJHamNz