Alexander Piel

Alexander Piel is an Associate Professor in Evolutionary Anthropology at University College London's Department of Anthropology. He is a biological anthropologist with a 4-field background, conducting fieldwork in Madagascar, Kenya, Senegal, and Tanzania, focusing on chimpanzees in the Issa Valley since 2005. He co-founded the Greater Mahale Ecosystem Research and Conservation Project (GMERC) in 2008 to study primate behavior and conservation in dry, mosaic habitats.

• BA in Animal Behaviour, Bucknell University (2001)
• MA in Anthropology, Iowa State University (2003)
• PhD in Evolutionary Anthropology, University of California, San Diego (2014)

His research examines behavioral adaptations of eastern chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, and yellow baboons in savanna-woodland environments. Key questions include how low population densities and large home ranges affect social organization, territoriality, communication strategies, and dietary adaptations. Since 2010, he has led conservation efforts in Tanzania using remote sensing technologies like camera traps, acoustic recorders, and drones.

Piel teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including primatology (ANT0008) and practical modules (ANT0007). He plans to develop new courses on primate communication and conservation. His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and 15 (Life on Land).