Dr. Jonathan Kolby is a National Geographic Explorer working to reduce the spread of diseases by the international wildlife trade. He is a former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service law enforcement officer (for the international wildlife trade) and Senior CITES Policy Specialist with the Office of International Affairs. As an independent science and policy consultant, he now provides training and capacity building to governments, NGO’s, academia and stakeholders to help monitor, regulate, and study the wildlife trade to ensure that it’s legal and sustainable.

His Ph.D. research at James Cook University focused on biosecurity and the spread of diseases caused by chytrid and ranavirus, a group of amphibian pathogens that are now causing more extinctions than any other disease event in recorded history. Jonathan is also the founding Director of the Honduras Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Center (HARCC).

Jonathan is active on social media (@MyFrogCroaked) where he frequently shares his science communication efforts.