KARACHI, July 16: A renowned authority on Pakistan’s wildlife and an internationally acclaimed ornithologist, Dr Thomas Jones Roberts, passed away recently in Wales, the United Kingdom.

His book, The Birds of Pakistan, is a major landmark in the field of ornithology as it was the first

complete account of Pakistan’s avifauna. The book was published in 1991. Other published works include The Mammals of Pakistan (1977), The Butterflies of Pakistan (2001), Field Guide to the Small Mammals of Pakistan (2005) and Field Guide to the Large and Medium-sized Mammals of Pakistan (2005).

Dr Roberts served as a member of the board of governors of World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan from 1985 to 1991 and the organisation’s scientific committee, says a press release issued by the WWF.

In 1994, he was recognised for his services to Pakistan in the field wildlife research and awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz. He was awarded the World Wild Fund for Nature International Award for Conservation Merit thrice.

“His work as member of the board of governors and the scientific committee in the early days of WWF-Pakistan helped shape the organisation and is still a guiding light,” says the press release.

Dr Roberts was the son of Sir William Roberts who came to the subcontinent in 1906 and joined the Indian Agriculture Service. T.J. Roberts first came to the region in 1946 and was the managing director of Roberts Cotton Associates Ltd, a company founded by his father, from 1966 onwards.