Scientific Leadership in Conservation Genetics & Wildlife Protection

Dr O’Donoghue is known for combining rigorous scientific methodology with operational field experience. His career bridges academia, conservation practice, wildlife crime prevention, and public engagement.

He works at the intersection of genetics, technology, and conservation policy, translating scientific research into practical tools that protect endangered species on the ground

Dr Paul O’Donoghue’s work combines academic research with applied conservation systems. He co-authored a landmark Nature (2003) study examining the evolutionary consequences of selective trophy hunting and has contributed to peer-reviewed black rhinoceros genetic research published in Scientific Reports. He has helped develop and validate DNA-based forensic marker systems used in rhinoceros crime investigations and wildlife trafficking prosecutions.

He co-authored one of the first peer-reviewed real-time anti-poaching alert frameworks in the Journal of Applied Ecology, integrating GPS-enabled telemetry and rapid-response ranger coordination. His advisory contributions include participation in the IUCN Cat Classification Task Force and genetic research supporting species recovery initiatives across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

Leadership

A man kneeling down offers food to a baby elephant, touching its trunk with his forehead; in a lush outdoor setting.
Man with a beard and wearing a brown beanie hat and dark outdoor jacket standing outdoors with a large brown bird of prey perched on his gloved hand, with mountains and cloudy sky in the background.
A person feeding a tiger through a metal fence at a zoo or sanctuary.
A person standing on the back of a white vehicle with 'DUNLOP' and 'SAVE THE RHINO' stickers, using binoculars to look into the distance in a rocky, grassland landscape with brown hills under a clear blue sky.

Wildlife Operations

Dr O’Donoghue combines laboratory science with extensive field experience. He has participated in wildlife capture, monitoring, and conservation operations involving:

Black rhinoceroses | Elephants | Brown bears | Scottish wildcats | Bighorn sheep

Cetaceans (bottlenose dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, pilot whales)

Scottish Wildcat Conservation

He held a protected species licence in the UK authorising genetic sampling and GPS collaring of Scottish wildcats — one of Europe’s most endangered felids. His scientific work supported national conservation planning efforts to prevent extinction.

Sierra Leone & Tropical Fieldwork

Dr O’Donoghue participated in biological survey expeditions documenting wildlife populations including forest elephants and western chimpanzees, contributing to conservation assessments in West Africa.

A Eurasian lynx sitting in front of a blurred background of trees and foliage.
Three birds perched on a branch against a textured background. The bird on the left is light brown, the middle bird is green with a pink beak, and the right bird has brown and white plumage.

Species Reintroduction & Rewilding

Dr O’Donoghue conducted feasibility research associated with the potential reintroduction of Eurasian lynx to the United Kingdom — the species having been extinct in Britain for approximately 1,300 years.

His work formed part of one of the most significant species reintroduction consultations undertaken in the UK and was covered by major international media outlets including The Washington Post.

He also provided scientific input to the Great Bustard Project, where genetic analyses informed source population selection for reintroduction in Africa.

Mauritius Conservation Programmes

He contributed to conservation initiatives targeting critically endangered bird species in Mauritius, including:

  • Pink pigeon

  • Echo parakeet

  • Mauritius kestrel

These programmes integrated habitat restoration, invasive species management, and population reinforcement strategies.

IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group

Cat Classification Task Force

Dr O’Donoghue serves as a genetic advisor to the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group’s Cat Classification Task Force, contributing to the scientific evaluation of wild felid taxonomy and the genetic evidence underpinning species and subspecies classification.

His role supports the integration of molecular genetics into global conservation frameworks, informing Red List assessments, regional conservation planning, and long-term species recovery strategy.

Field & Forensic Systems

Over the course of his career, Dr O’Donoghue has contributed to the development of real-time anti-poaching alert systems integrating GPS-enabled monitoring and satellite communication, and to the validation of DNA-based forensic marker systems used in rhinoceros crime investigation and wildlife trafficking prosecutions.

Dr O’Donoghue’s work has operated across three primary conservation landscape

• Africa – Species recovery & anti-poaching systems
• Southeast Asia – Wildlife crime enforcement & habitat protection
• Europe – Reintroduction feasibility & advisory frameworks

A poster featuring three sections labeled Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Each section has watercolor map backgrounds, wildlife images, and a compass at the bottom. Africa shows elephants and discusses species recovery and anti-poaching systems, Southeast Asia shows foliage and addresses wildlife crime enforcement and habitat protection, Europe displays a lynx and relates to reintroduction feasibility and advisory frameworks.

Applied Conservation Systems

Dr Paul O’Donoghue has designed and deployed integrated conservation systems that combine genetics, forensic science, field monitoring technologies, and institutional governance to protect endangered species at scale.

His work has included:

• Development and validation of DNA marker systems for black rhinoceros crime investigation
• Co-authorship of one of the first peer-reviewed real-time anti-poaching alert system frameworks (Journal of Applied Ecology)
• Genetic erosion research published in Nature (2003) informing international wildlife management policy
• Advisory contribution to the IUCN Cat Classification Task Force
• Establishment of a Conservation Genetics Laboratory supporting applied conservation programmes
• Field system deployment across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe

An infographic illustrating applied conservation systems architecture with three sections. The first section shows elephants and mentions conservation genetics, DNA marker validation, species monitoring, forensic tools, and population recovery strategies. The second section depicts a tiger and discusses wildlife forensics, genetic databases, custody protocols, and species identification markers. The third section shows a patrol vehicle with a ranger and satellite technology, highlighting anti-poaching systems with GPS collars, field alerts, satellite communication, and integrated monitoring.

Scientific Foundation

  • Nature (2003) — evolutionary consequences of trophy hunting

  • Scientific Reports — black rhinoceros genetic erosion

  • Journal of Applied Ecology — real-time anti-poaching systems

Operational Deployment

  • DNA forensic systems used in rhinoceros crime investigation

  • GPS-enabled wildlife monitoring and satellite alert frameworks

  • Field collaboration across Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia

Institutional Governance

  • IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group – Cat Classification Task Force

  • Director – Linz UK Trust

  • International Advisor – FLIGHT Indonesia

  • Scientific Advisor – Great Bustard Project

Intergrated Field Technologies

Dr Paul O’Donoghue integrates camera trap networks, GPS-enabled telemetry, satellite communication systems, and mobile field data architecture into operational conservation frameworks that support enforcement, species monitoring, and cross-agency coordination.

This work has included

• GPS-enabled wildlife telemetry
• Camera trap and spatial monitoring networks
• Satellite-linked rapid-response systems
• Mobile ranger data infrastructure
• Cross-agency enforcement coordination

Illustration of integrated field technologies and institutional deployment for wildlife and landscape monitoring. Features include a vehicle with surveillance equipment, a person operating a computer that displays a map, a rhinoceros, multiple drones flying and scanning, a satellite, camera trap networks, AI drone patrols, spatial telemetry systems, mobile data units, and people coordinating intelligence on multiple monitors.

Work Included :

Field Monitoring & Telemetry Systems

  • GPS collaring and genetic sampling of protected species (e.g., Scottish wildcat licence)

  • Wildlife capture and monitoring operations (rhinoceros, elephants, brown bears, bighorn sheep)

  • Cetacean monitoring in migratory corridors (Tenerife field research)

  • Spatial telemetry integration for species tracking and enforcement response

Monitoring Infrastructure & Intelligence Coordination

  • Camera trap deployment architecture

  • Satellite-enabled alert systems

  • Mobile field data systems for ranger reporting

  • Rapid-response frameworks linking monitoring to enforcement action

Institutional Deployment

  • Integration of forensic genetics into wildlife crime prosecution

  • Cross-border collaboration with protected area authorities

  • Advisory coordination across NGOs, governments, and conservation bodies

  • Deployment across Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia