Anne Rasa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anne Rasa
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In the Northern Cape, South Africa
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| Born |
Olwen Anne Elisabeth Rasa
1940 |
| Died | 15 November 2020 (aged 79–80) South Africa
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| Occupation | Ethologist |
| Known for | Study of social behaviour of dwarf mongoose |
Olwen Anne Elisabeth Rasa (1940 – 15 November 2020) was a British scientist who studied animal behavior. She was especially known for her long research on the social lives of dwarf mongooses in Kenya. She also studied other animals like yellow mongooses and even a type of beetle. Her work helped us understand how animals live together and interact.
Contents
Learning About Animals
Early Studies
Anne Rasa loved learning about animals. In 1961, she earned her science degree from Imperial College London. She then received a special scholarship to study how fish act aggressively.
In 1965, she got her Master of Science degree from the University of Hawaiʻi. Later, in 1970, she earned her Ph.D. (a very high university degree) from University of London. For her Ph.D., she studied how coral reef fish show aggression. She worked with Konrad Lorenz, a very famous scientist who studied animal behavior.
Exploring Animal Behavior
Studying Dwarf Mongooses
From 1970, Anne Rasa continued her research with Konrad Lorenz. During this time, she started her important studies on dwarf mongooses. She looked closely at how they lived in groups, how they marked their territory, and how they behaved towards each other.
In 1975, she moved to Marburg University in Germany. Here, she focused on how dwarf mongooses developed their behaviors as they grew up. Her work was so good that she became a professor in 1981.
Adventures in Kenya
From 1981, Anne Rasa worked with the University of Bayreuth in Germany. She received a special scholarship to continue her field studies on dwarf mongooses. She traveled to the Taru Desert in Kenya to watch these animals in their natural home.
She wrote a book about her findings called Mongoose Watch: A Family Observed. Konrad Lorenz wrote the introduction for her book. He said her work was as important as that of Jane Goodall (who studied chimpanzees) and Dian Fossey (who studied gorillas).
In 1984, her book and discoveries were shown on a popular German TV show called Expedition ins Tierreich. Her book was also translated into many languages, so people all over the world could learn from her research.
Research in South Africa
In 1986, Rasa became a professor at University of Pretoria in South Africa. She taught students about animal behavior. She also started new studies on Yellow mongooses in the Kalahari Desert.
In 1991, she became a professor at the University of Bonn in Germany. She kept teaching about animal behavior and continued her studies on Yellow mongooses. She also began studying a type of beetle called Parastizopus armaticeps, which lives in groups. Anne Rasa retired from Bonn University at the end of 2000.
Life After Retirement
After retiring, Anne Rasa bought a nature reserve called Kalahari Trails. It is located at the southern end of the Kalahari Desert in South Africa. She moved there in December 2000. She welcomed visitors who wanted to learn about the plants and animals of the Kalahari. She offered places to stay and guided walks.
In 2007, she published another book called KALAHARI – Magnificent Desert. This book featured her own pictures and writings about the desert.
In 2011 and 2012, Anne Rasa worked as a science advisor for a TV series. The series was called Kalahari Trails and was filmed in the Kalahari.
Family Life
Anne Rasa had three children and four grandchildren. She passed away on 15 November 2020.
