Kamal Khidas

Profile

The Canadian Museum of Nature's vertebrate collection is an encyclopedia of fish, amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal specimens that include specimens preserved in fluid, articulated skeletons, bones, skins, furs and pelts. As Curator, Kamal's main responsibility is to ensure the best care and development of the collection. His main tasks involve managing staff, volunteers and students, curating and developing the mammal collection, contributing his expertise to the scientific community, and participating in many aspects of the museum community such as exhibition-gallery development. Kamal also chairs the museum's Live Animal Care Committee, which requires a completely different set of considerations from the constituents of the preserved collection.

Kamal conducts research on the biology and ecology of land mammals and often uses the specimens in the collections to inform his research. His work often includes university students who benefit greatly from his supervision.

Main Research Project

• Morphogenetic Characteristics of Large Carnivores from Canada, and the Implications for Conservation.