Peter B. Best
(1939-2015) English marine biologist and whale researcher in Cape Town, South Africa / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Peter Barrington Best FRSSAf (1939 - 22 April 2015) was an English marine biologist known for his research on whales and dolphins of Southern Africa. He was described as the world's foremost authority on the whales and dolphins of the Southern African region.[2][3]
Peter Barrington Best | |
---|---|
Born | 1939 (1939) |
Died | 22 April 2015(2015-04-22) (aged 75–76) Cape Town |
Alma mater | Cambridge University |
Known for | Whales and dolphins of the Southern African region |
Spouse | Margaret Ann Ralph (m.1974) |
Children | Robert and Alison |
Awards | FRSSAf[1] |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Cetacean biology |
Institutions | Saldanha Bay whaling station Sea Fisheries Research Institute University of Pretoria |
Thesis | Studies of South African Cetacea with special reference to the sperm whale (Physeter catodon) (1971) |
Best was an Extraordinary Professor and Head of the Whale Unit at the Mammal Research Institute of the University of Pretoria. He was well known for his work on whales and dolphins but also studied seals.
He is credited with initiating research into Southern right whales in the Southern African region in 1969 and of starting the on-going annual aerial survey of these whales in 1979.[4]
From 1971 Best made recommendations to the Minister of Environmental Affairs on South Africa's policies relating to whaling and conservation of whales on behalf of the department of Marine and Coastal Management.[5]