Rate My Professor Philip Seddon

Professor Philip Seddon is Emeritus Professor of Zoology in the Department of Zoology, Division of Sciences, at the University of Otago. He earned his BSc (Honours) degree and PhD in Zoology from the University of Otago, with his doctoral thesis researching the nationally endangered yellow-eyed penguin under the supervision of Professor Lloyd Davis. Following graduation, Seddon gained hands-on experience through a local field job involving nest monitoring and pest control for yellow-eyed penguins. He then served as Research Officer at the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, University of Cape Town, from 1989 to 1991, and as Project Manager at the National Wildlife Research Center in Ta’if, Saudi Arabia, from 1991 to 2000, undertaking projects in South Africa, Namibia, and other countries. Returning to the University of Otago in 1998, he joined the Zoology Department, was promoted to Professor in 2001, and directed the Postgraduate Wildlife Management Programme for two decades. Under his leadership, the programme introduced one of Otago’s first coursework master’s degrees, enabling research placements with organizations like the Department of Conservation.

Seddon specializes in conservation biology, with key interests in reintroduction biology, conservation translocations, ecology of mammalian pest species, seabird ecology (particularly penguins), protected areas management, nature-based tourism impacts, and de-extinction implications for conservation. A founding figure in reintroduction biology, his work has profoundly influenced global conservation practices and policy. Highly cited publications include "Developing the science of reintroduction biology" (2007, Conservation Biology), "Directions in reintroduction biology" (2008, Trends in Ecology & Evolution), "Reversing defaunation: restoring species in a changing world" (2014, Science), "Invasive mammal eradication on islands results in substantial conservation gains" (2016, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), and "From reintroduction to assisted colonization: moving along the conservation translocation spectrum" (2010, Restoration Ecology). He has held leadership positions in International Union for Conservation of Nature specialist groups, including the synthetic biology group, co-authored an IUCN document on de-extinction pathways (2017), and advised the New Zealand Department of Conservation on recovery programmes for species such as kaki (black stilt) and takahē. In 2019, Seddon was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society Te Apārangi. Post-retirement, he continues advising on invasive species management for the Ministry for Primary Industries and participates in conservation reserves.