Meet The Team
Richard Pearce
CEO and Founder
Background: Studied Environmental Management at university in the United Kingdom. Conducted forest research in Tanzania and Madagascar and qualified as a Safari Guide in South Africa. Has been working as an adventure tourism and nature guide throughout Asia since 2013. Has been leading Japanese giant salamander conservation experiences 2018. Based in Tottori Prefecture for a total of 15 years.
Interest: Richard has been obsessed with animals since he was a small child where he grew up in the beautiful Cotswolds area of England. African animals were his first love. Having moved to Tottori by chance in 2006, Richard fell in love with the sacred mountains of Daisen and Mitoku in Tottori Prefecture. Having spent years guiding and exploring these mountains, Richard's love and concern for these places has grown in tandem. Climate change and human development are having serious effects on the special nature of these places, particularly on the rivers, forests and farmland of Mount Daisen. Having grown aware of the increasing need to protect the Japanese giant salamander, the idea of creating an NPO to help protect all aspects of the natural environment was discussed and "Sustainable Daisen NPO" was born with Richard as its leader.
Kazumi Pearce
Director
Background: Born in Niigata Prefecture, moved to Tottori Prefecture in 2010. She has lived with animals in her home since she was a child and currently lives with one dog, two goats, ten chickens and a lot of wild animals.
Interest: After an illness, she became interested in food and is learning more about environmental issues, which are closely related to human health and food. In the near future, she plans to open a café that is friendly to both people and nature.
Official Advisors and Research Contributers
Professor Amaël Borzée
Background: Professor of wildlife ecology and conservation at Nanjing Forestry University, where he leads the Laboratory of Animal Behaviour and Conservation. In parallel, Professor Borzée serves as Co-Chair for the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group.
Contributions: When Dr. Borzée began supporting our efforts in 2022, he was confronted with the distressing condition of the Japanese giant salamanders. In 2023, Dr. Amaël Borzée helped provide funding, organization, and leadership to a team of 15 researchers and students. Together they conducted extensive Japanese giant salamander habitat surveys in the Nawa river basin.
After visiting three separate times, he remains dedicated to returning periodically, and personally guiding and advising on diverse projects aimed at the conservation of Japanese giant salamanders and the surrounding ecosystem.
Jordy Groffen, MSc
Background: Jordy Groffen is a PhD candidate at James Cook University, Australia and has 10+ years of experience in animal conservation, behavior, and ecology. He has designed, built and installed different artificial shelter types to monitor populations (or individuals) of amphibian species around the globe including the Eastern Hellbender, a giant salamander species native to the United States. He currently studies the potential use of artificial shelters as a conservation tool to protect the critically endangered nursery frogs from climate change in Australia.
Contributions: As a nest box specialist, Groffen has used this knowledge to develop and install 2 artificial shelters for the giant Japanese salamander during the 2023 Japanese giant salamander habitat surveys. Currently, he is testing two distinct artificial shelter designs in a natural stream with a relatively high density of salamanders. The primary focus of these artificial shelters is to provide a shelter and nesting site for adult Japanese giant salamanders. The ultimate objective is to determine the preferred design of these shelters and subsequently deploy additional units in degraded rivers, thereby increasing the availability of shelter and nesting sites for this vulnerable species.
Kevin Messenger, PhD
Background: As a professor at Nanjing Forestry University zoology department, Dr. Kevin Messenger is an accomplished herpetologist and ecologist, with a primary focus on the behavior, ecology, natural history, and taxonomy of reptiles and amphibians in the southeastern United States and southeastern China. Dr. Messenger also takes the lead at the Herpetology and Applied Conservation Laboratory within the university. Simultaneously, he holds the position of co-coordinator for the IUCN Viper Specialist Group, East Asia.
Dr. Messenger has authored "The Asian Ratsnakes and Kin of Greater China," a bilingual book (in English and Chinese) that functions as a comprehensive field guide and reference for this particular taxonomic group. The goal of this publication is to advance and spread scientific discovery by making it more accessible in the field.
Contributions: Dr. Kevin Messenger conducted extensive aerial drone surveys of Japanese giant salamander habitats within the Nawa River basin. As a viper specialist, Dr. Messenger played a crucial role in the 2023 giant salamander habitat survey, particularly in documenting the nearby fauna.
John Abernethy, PhD
Background: Dr. John Abernethy serves as a lecturer in Ecology and Environmental Sciences at Liverpool John Moores University. His research is centered on landscape ecology, specifically investigating the impact of human activities on ecosystems and how species adapt to these transformations. Currently, Dr. Abernethy’s research centers on orangutans’ adaptability to changes in the rainforest, including conservation efforts meant to restore their habitat.
Contributions: As a wildlife conservationist and researcher, Dr. John Abernethy holds a special affinity for amphibians and reptiles, particularly giant salamanders. He became an integral part of our team in 2023, acting as key researcher in the inaugural Japanese Giant Salamander habitat surveys. Furthermore, Dr. Abernethy played a vital role in providing financial support for this endeavor.
Save the Giant Salamander Team
Rachel Rasfeld
Background: Educator/Artist
Interest: Rachel has a lifelong passion for nature and conservation. She has worked in nonprofit administration and as an environmental educator. She is dedicated to sparking an interest and love for the natural world, and believes the Japanese giant salamander is one of Japan's greatest treasures. She is honored to participate in efforts to ensure their future well-being and to help share their story in Japan and beyond.
Francisco Garcia
Background: Digital Marketer and wildlife enthusiast from Los Angeles, California
Interest: Francisco has been captivated by the natural world for as long as he can remember, with a particular fascination for Earth's most surreal fauna. His love for wildlife has evolved into a passion for conservation. Drawn to Daisen Town by the Japanese giant salamander, Francisco has merged his professional background in digital marketing with his dedication to conservation. He is delighted to offer support to Sustainable Daisen by helping raise awareness about the critical situation confronting the Japanese giant salamander and by communicating our plans for its preservation.
Jennifer Madden
Background: Conservation biology and International Studies. Science communicator. Lived in Hyogo, Japan from 2016-2021.
Interest: Passionate about wildlife practically from birth, discovered a love for Japan in University, the JGS projects brings her two passions together. Jennifer is looking forward to combining her education and science communication experience to help spread the word about the salamander and support a community conservation project.
Joshua Hodgson
Background: New Zealand Conservation and Wildlife Photographer
Interest: Joshua finds himself at home in the wild and enjoys nothing more than setting out into the wilderness and experiencing all the wonder that nature has to offer. Having always loved animals is what brought Joshua to the campaign, where he was immediately enthralled by one of the most unique and ancient creatures alive today - the Japanese Giant Salamander. Becoming an editor has given Joshua the opportunity to share the wonders of his experiences with others. For more about what Joshua is up to visit www.youtube.com/c/inakaadventure
Tan Kai Yin
Background: Website Content Creator and Lesson Creator. Graduated from the National University of Singapore in 2018 with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Life Sciences. Worked in Kochi, Japan from 2018-2021 as an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) and has since been working as a Veterinary Nurse back in Singapore (2021-2022).
Interest: Kai Yin loves animals and nature, and is an avid hiker. She has always been mesmerised by the rich mountains, forests, rivers and seas of Japan and cherishes every wildlife encounter she has had on her trips around the country. She finds the JGS very fascinating, not just because of their sheer size and peculiar (but endearing) morphology, but also for their interesting anatomy, unique behaviours and quiet living. She firmly believes that the JGS holds an important place in the ecosystem and heritage of Japan and, having much to learn from it, that we should all play an active part in protecting it.
Steven Swanson
Background: JET Program, Kumamoto, 2019-2022. JGS Lesson Planning Team.
Interest: Passion for biology and Japan. Interested in the JGS project as it is an intersection of both. Steven wants to protect all of the beautiful and interesting creatures of the earth. He works with the JGS Campaign Lesson Planning team.
Stephanie Andrews
Background: Winery Staff and Design Hobbyist. Has lived in Japan since 2016.
Interest in the project/wildlife/JGS: Has always loved animals and taken an interest in their well-being, volunteering at animal shelters and the like. Stephanie learned about the JGS and the struggles they’re facing via a call for help on social media. She was moved to help the cause in any way she could. After falling in love with their cute little toes, she wanted to showcase the JGS’s cuteness. She hopes everyone will fall in love with the JGS, too!
Brad Skinner
Background: Studied Ecology at Appalachian State University with a main focus on animal behavior and Herpetology. Has been working as an eikaiwa instructor and chef in Tokushima since 2018.
Interest: Growing up, Brad was always outside, hiking, camping, exploring, and most importantly searching for all new types of wildlife. There's not a single moment that sparked his interest in salamanders, but being lucky enough to live in an area where they were plentiful, they quickly became a natural obsession. Having worked closely with the JGS' American relative, the Hellbender, Brad was introduced to the world of the largest living salamanders on Earth. Implementing conservation studies and practices from America could be key in helping where it may be lacking in Japan. Making a difference, not only for the JGS, but also their environment is what Brad hoping this project can achieve.
Donate
Your donation allows us to carry out our vital work of conserving and protecting the Japanese giant salamander. For a detailed breakdown of our fund-raising goals, please visit our “Save the Japanese Giant Salamander Campaign” page