Dr Claire Raisin

After completing an undergraduate degree in Ecology and Environmental Management at Cardiff University I went on to study the endangered echo parakeet of Mauritius for my Masters and PhD at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE).  My research focused on the impacts of management on species recovery and how infectious disease can influence management decisions and vice versa.

More recently I was Director of the climate change charity, Size of Wales, which works with partners across Africa and South America to protect tropical forests, reduce deforestation and mitigate the effects of climate change.  Our work focussed on empowering local communities and supporting in-country NGOs as well as awareness raising work in the UK.

I joined Chester Zoo as Field Programme Coordinator for Madagascar and the Mascarenes in May 2017.  I look forward to combining my experiences of partnership working with my conservation training to develop a strong network of field programmes across the region.

Key publications

Groombridge, J.J., Raisin, C. & Brekke, P. 2018.  Island populations: genetic factors driving declines, in Species conservation: lessons from islands (Jamieson A. Copsey, Simon A. Black, Jim J. Groombridge & Carl G. Jones, Editors).

Stanbrook, R., Raisin, C. & Vulinec, K. 2017.  Observations on the tunnelling behaviour and seed dispersal efficacy of Copris nubilosus Kohlmann, Cano, and Delgado (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae: Coprini). The Coleopterists Bulletin, 71(4), 777-780.

Stanbrook, R., Raisin, C. & Vulinec, K. 2016. Observations on the nidification behaviour and seed dispersal efficacy of Copris nubilosus (Kohlmann)(Scarabaeinae:Coprini). Coleopterists Bulletin, 71(4), 777.

Mounce, H.L., Raisin, C., Leonard, D.L., Wickenden, H., Swinnerton, K.J. & Groombridge, J.J., 2015. Spatial genetic architecture of the critically-endangered Maui Parrotbill (Pseudonestor xanthophrys): management considerations for reintroduction strategies. Conservation Genetics, 16(1), 71-84.

Tollington, S., Jones, C., Greenwood, A., Tatayah, V., Raisin, C., Burke, T., Dawson, D. & Groombridge, J. 2013. Long-term, fine-scale temporal patterns of genetic diversity in the restored Mauritius parakeet reveal genetic impacts of management and associated demographic effects on reintroduction programmes. Biological Conservation, 161, 28-38.

Raisin, C., Frantz, A., Kundu, S., Greenwood, A.G., Jones, C.G. & Groombridge, J. J. 2012. Genetic consequences of intensive conservation management for the Mauritius parakeet. Conservation Genetics, 13(3) 3, 707-715.

Groombridge, J. J., Raisin, C., Bristol, R. M. & Richardson, D. S. 2012. Genetic consequences of reintroductions and insights from population history. In: Reintroduction biology: integrating science and management (Ewen, J.G., Armstrong, D.P., Parker, K.A. & Seddon, P.J. Editors). Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK.

Raisin, C., Dawson, D.A., Greenwood, A.G., Jones, C.G. & Groombridge, J. J. 2009. Characterization of Mauritius parakeet (Psittacula eques) microsatellite loci and their cross-utility in other parrots (Psittacidae, AVES). Molecular Ecology Resources, 9(4), 1231-1235.