JoGayle Howard, Brilliant Scientist and Pioneer, Dies

For more than three decades Dr. JoGayle Howard dedicated her life and work to reproducing endangered species. Since she arrived at the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park in 1980 as a freshly graduated veterinarian (Texas A&M University), her intense focus on animal reproduction and her success at pioneering new techniques earned her the title of “Sperm Queen,” a nickname she relished. She earned her doctorate from the University of Maryland in 1989 and four years later the National Institutes of Health awarded her a prestigious Special Emphasis Research Career Award fellowship that helped support her research. Throughout her career, she received numerous awards along with international acclaim for her innovative research.

Howard directly contributed to recovering the native American black-footed ferret, a species that was down to its last 18 individuals in the 1980s. With Howard’s oversight, the National Zoo’s black-footed ferret breeding program has flourished with the birth of more than 500 “kits,” including 150 by artificial insemination at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, near Front Royal, Va. Last year she achieved a milestone when she produced black-footed ferret kits from sperm frozen more than 20 years ago from one of the original wild founders. In 2010, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service bestowed on Howard the prestigious award of “Recovery Champion” for her leadership in recovering this endangered species.

Howard played a leadership role in understanding the reproductive biology of the world’s beloved giant panda. She was a key scientist on a multi-institutional team that conducted a biomedical survey of giant pandas in China from 1998 through 2000. Her studies along with Chinese and American colleagues helped identify the causes of poor reproduction in giant pandas living in breeding centers and zoos, which helped contribute to a panda population explosion over the past decade. With Chinese colleagues, she developed new protocols for sperm cryopreservation and artificial insemination. It was Howard who artificially inseminated the National Zoo’s female panda, Mei Xiang, and produced the first surviving cub Tai Shan in 2005.

Of the many species studied by Howard, she was most interested in the secretive and beautiful clouded leopard of Southeast Asia. When the breeding program in North American zoos foundered, Howard established a research program in the range country of Thailand. She discovered that the key to reproductive success was improved husbandry, including pairing animals at a young age, ensuring better nutrition and providing more spacious enclosures. More than 50 cubs have resulted while Howard successfully raised funds to initiate some of the first-ever field studies of this elusive species.

Although a basic scientist, Howard had outstanding veterinary skills and constantly meshed her interest in reproducing animals to ensuring that they were physically and genetically healthy and disease free. She was tireless in her efforts to train the next generation of biomedical specialists interested in a wildlife career. Howard mentored hundreds of trainees throughout the United States and abroad as post-graduate and graduate fellows, veterinarians and interns.

Howard traveled extensively, collaborating with and advising zoos and breeding centers throughout the world. Howard’s extensive scientific record includes more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and 20 book chapters. An hour-long special Nature’s Matchmaker, exclusively about Howard, debuts March 13 on the Smithsonian Channel.

Howard died March 5, at 59, in Washington, D.C. She courageously, and at times triumphantly, fought malignant melanoma.

For individuals interested in honoring her memory, donations may be made to the:

SCBI/JoGayle Howard Cat Conservation Fund
Advancement Office
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
National Zoological Park
1500 Remount Road
Front Royal, VA 22630 

Her legacy lives on in the survival of the species that she studied, including the black-footed ferret, giant panda, clouded leopard, cheetah, fishing cat, Florida panther and elephant.

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SI-111-2011