About me
About me
The goal is to have a nuanced debate about our relationship with nature and, in the long term, to preserve the diversity that exists in nature. Without nature, we have no future.
I give talks about my life for and in nature and about nature management in different parts of the world. I actively participate in the ongoing debate on nature in Denmark based on my core narrative. I address experts in my field, politicians and Mr. and Mrs. Denmark. The goal is to have a nuanced debate about our relationship with nature and, in the long term, to preserve the diversity that exists in nature. Without nature, we have no future. We must use it, but also respect that there will be generations after us who also want to be able to use nature. Specifically, I work from my own platform, through my work as chairman of the Animal Ethics Council and my new role as chairman of the board of the Danish Nature Foundation.
CV
- Born May 14, 1952 in Copenhagen
- MSc in Zoology from the University of Copenhagen and longtime Scientific Director of the Copenhagen Zoo.
- Current chairman of the Animal Ethics Council, the Council for Zoological Facilities and the Danish Nature Foundation.
- Leader and founder of the European branch of the Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
For over 30 years, I have appeared on TV and radio as an expert on nature and zoology. I am also the author and contributor to several books, including:
- Frands Carlsen and Bengt Holst (2003): Politikens bog om pattedyr. Politikens Forlag.
- Bengt Holst (professional editor) (2003): Verdens dyreliv – et illustreret opslagsværk om dyreriget. Published by Aktium.
- Bengt Holst (2005): Børnenes store dyrebog. Politikens Forlag.
- Bengt Holst (2013): Wild with Knowledge – The Elephant. Published by Epsilon.
- Bengt Holst (2013): Wild with Knowledge – The Polar Bear. Published by Epsilon.
- Bengt Holst (2019): Wild with Knowledge – The Great Panda. Published by Epsilon.
- Christina B. Kjeldsen (2017): Bengt Holst – Nature’s voice. FADL’s Publishing House.
- He has also written a large part of the animal entries in The Great Danish Encyclopedia (Gyldendal).
Meet me here
Throughout my career, I have often spoken out about my views on nature and animals. For example, in the biography THE VOICE OF NATURE and in various interviews and podcasts. You can see a selection below. You can read my own opinion pieces and blog posts under WRITINGS.
The voice of nature
ABOUT THE BOOK: Bengt Holst: Nature’s Voice is a biographical book about Bengt Holst, the scientific director of Copenhagen Zoo, who became a world-famous face in 2014 when he defended his and the Zoo’s decision to euthanize the young male giraffe, Marius. The book is written by journalist Christina B. Kjeldsen, who has followed and interviewed Bengt Holst for more than six months.
Nature holds so
many exciting stories. It just
needs someone to tell them!
In Bengt Holst: Nature’s Voice, Zoo Director Bengt Holst tells for
the first time the story behind his view of nature – a view of nature that has brought
him to the forefront of Copenhagen Zoo’s scientific work and to the chair of the Animal Ethics Council. In the book, we meet both the boy who loved exploring the forests around his childhood home in Virum and the teenager on birdwatching trips through the Lapland tundra. We join the young intern at work in an old-fashioned zoo on Valby Bakke, and we join the ambitious zoologist on a hunt for musk oxen in Greenland.
Find the book here.
The voice of nature
ABOUT THE BOOK: Bengt Holst: Nature’s Voice is a biographical book about Bengt Holst, the scientific director of Copenhagen Zoo, who became a world-famous face in 2014 when he defended his and the Zoo’s decision to euthanize the young male giraffe, Marius. The book is written by journalist Christina B. Kjeldsen, who has followed and interviewed Bengt Holst for more than six months.
Nature holds so
many exciting stories. It just
needs someone to tell them!
In Bengt Holst: Nature’s Voice, Zoo Director Bengt Holst tells for the first time the story behind his view of nature – a view of nature that has brought him to the forefront of Copenhagen Zoo’s scientific work and to the chairmanship of the Animal Ethics Council
In the book, we meet both the boy who loved exploring the forests around his childhood home in Virum and the teenager on bird watching trips through the Lapland tundra. We join the young intern at work in an old-fashioned zoo on Valby Bakke, and we join the ambitious zoologist on a hunt for musk oxen in Greenland.
Find the book here.
FAREWELL PORTRAIT FROM THE ZOO
Watch the video portrait of my 37 years at Copenhagen Zoo.
GUEST IN FRANKS PENTATHLON
Listen to my conversation with Frank Hvam about nature, zoos and the killing of Marius the giraffe.
GET OUT – PODCAST
Listen to Erik B. Jørgensen’s podcast “Meet the Adventurer” about my life in biology and animals.
Press photos for use by media and partners
Photo: Gitte Blom Christensen
