Jesse Erens

Jesse Erens is a Dutch biologist with a lifelong passion for the natural world, and with a particular soft spot for amphibians and reptiles. Marvelling at the local wildlife around his childhood home in Heerlen, the Netherlands, these early influences fostered a strong determination to contribute to the conservation of global biodiversity. As a researcher, his work centres around the question of how wildlife populations respond to environmental challenges, and he obtained his PhD degree focusing on the impacts of chytrid fungus on amphibian populations. Jesse also worked as a herpetologist for various nature conservation organizations to help conduct biodiversity surveys in imperilled tropical ecosystems. This included expeditions to Madagascar, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Indonesia, and various regions in South and Central America.

As an extension of the more descriptive nature of scientific research, he is convinced that a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world is essential to create long-term support for its preservation. Besides finding and observing animals in their natural habitat, he therefore aims to paint a wider picture of the ecology, evolution and life history of local species. In this way, he also likes to bring attention to the more obscure biodiversity that often remains underexposed or undervalued.