Direction:Ecology, Conservation Biology and Natural Resource Management
Position:Associate Professor
With 25 years of experience in wildlife conservation and management and over a decade of working as a researcher and lecturer of ecology at Ilia State University, Zura Javakhishvili is one of Georgia’s leading academicians and wildlife conservationists. Starting his career at the Georgian Center for the Conservation of Wildlife (GCCW) in 1997, he spent several years researching and mapping the distribution and ecology of raptors and owls in Georgia. This led to the publication of Georgia’s first bird identification book Raptors of Georgia (1999), which the authors revised and updated a few years later as Raptors and Owls of Georgia (2005). Volunteering at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, USA, Zura Javakhishvili was a member of the Sanctuary’s raptor migration count team and participated in a ringing program of American kestrels (Falco sparverius) in 2002. In a collaboration between GCCW and BirdLife International, he coordinated the identification, mapping and establishment of Important Bird Areas in Georgia between 2004 and 2006.
Zura Javakhisvhili graduated with a Master’s degree in Biology and Zoology from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University in 2003, for which he analyzed factors determining nest site selection by griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in Georgia. Between 2003 and 2006 he served as GCCW’s Conservation Program Manager, then started as a lecturer and PhD student at Ilia State University in order to build much-needed capacity for wildlife conservation and research in Georgia. While teaching students in all aspects of wildlife conservation, biodiversity assessment methods and population ecology, his own research focussed on seasonal movement of birds in the Caucasus and its role in the spread of A-type Avian Influenza Virus. As a visiting scholar, Zura Javakhishvili trained in satellite telemetry of greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) at the University of Idaho, USA, and data analysis of avian influenza at the University of Cambridge, UK. His avian influenza studies are conducted in close collaboration with Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; the University of Cambridge; and Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom.
Zura Javakhishvili earned his PhD in 2018 and became an Associate Professor at Ilia State University in 2020.
Scientific interests / research interests
Avian Ecology and Conservation, Population Ecology, Wildlife Conservation and Management, Ecology of Wildlife Diseases, Local and global movement of wild animal vectors and its role in the spread of zoonotic diseases, Management of harvested wildlife populations, Inference of animal movement using satellite telemetry, Avian migratory ecology.
Featured publications
⦁ Nicola S. Lewis, Josanne H. Verhagen, Zurab Javakhishvili, Colin A. Russell, Pascal Lexmond, Kim B. Westgeest, Theo M. Bestebroer, Rebecca A. Halpin, Xudong Lin, Amy Ransier, Nadia B Fedorova, Timothy B. Stockwell, Neus Latorre-Margalef, Björn Olsen, Gavin Smith, Justin Bahl, David E. Wentworth, Jonas Waldenström, Ron A.M. Fouchier, Ph.D. Miranda de Graaf; 2015. Influenza A virus evolution and spatio-temporal dynamics in Eurasian Wild Birds: A phylogenetic and phylogeographic study of whole-genome sequence data. Journal of General Virology, August 2015 96: 2050-2060.
⦁ Nicola S. Lewis, Zurab Javakhishvili, Colin A. Russell, Ann Machablishvili, Pascal Lexmond, Josanne H. Verhagen, Oanh Vuong, Tinatin Onashvili, Marina Donduashvili, Derek J. Smith, Ron A. M. Fouchier; 2013. Avian Influenza Virus Surveillance in Wild Birds in Georgia: 2009–2011 March 2013 | Volume 8 | Issue 3 | e58534
⦁ Zura Javakhishvili, Giorgi Rajebashvili, Giorgi Darchiashvili; 2013. Breeding of the Transcaucasian Eurasian Crane (Grus grus archibaldi) in Georgia. Newsletter of Crane Working Group of Eurasia, Vol. 1, Issue 12, Pages 47-49.
⦁ Alexander Gavashelishvili, Zura Javakhishvili; 2010. Combining radio-telemetry and random observations to model the habitat of Near Threatened Caucasian grouse Tetrao mlokosiewiczi. Oryx., Vol. 44., No 4., page 491
⦁ Gavashelishvili, A.; McGready, M.; Javakhishvili, Z. 2006. Planning the conservation of the breeding population of cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) in the Republic of Georgia. Oryx., Vol. 40., No 1., Jan. 2006, pp76 – 83.
⦁ Javakhishvili, Z. & Gokhelashvili, R. 2005. Caucasian Black Grouse Conservation in Georgia. 3rd International Black Grouse Conference Liya Fasti Agricultural College, 20 – 25 March, pp97 – 99
⦁ Gokhelashvili, R.; Gavashelishvili, A.; Javakhishvili, Z.; Azniashvili, L.. Tourism Infrastructure Planning in Tusheti National Park of Georgia 2002. Monitoring and Management of Visitor Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas, Conference Proceedings ed. by Arnberger, A. & Brandenburg, C. & Muhar, A. pp74 – 77
⦁ Javakhishvili, Z. 1999. The Corncrake (Crex crex) in Georgia, In SCHÄFFER, N. & MAMMEN, U. (eds.) : Proceedings International Corncrake Workshop 1998, Hilpoltstein/Germany pp39 – 40
Books
⦁ Javakhishvili, Z. & Gavashelili, A. & Darchiashvili, G. 2006. Birds of Samtskhe-Javakheti. 74p Buneba Print publishing. Tbilisi.
⦁ Darchiashvili, G.; Javakhishvili, Z.; Gavashelishvili. A.; Gokhelashvili, R. 2005 Birds of Georgia. Field guide for Hunters and Natural Resourses Managers. 66p Buneba Print publishing. Tbilisi.
⦁ Galvez, R.A.; Gavashelishvili, A.; Javakhishvili, Z. 2005. Raptors and Owls of Georgia. Field guide. 130p. Buneba Print publishing. Tbilisi.
⦁ Gokhelashvili, R.; Javakhishvili, Z.; Gavashelishvili, A., Azniashvili, L. 2001. Caucasian Black Grouse. 66p. Buneba Print publishing. Tbilisi.
⦁ Gavashelishvili, A.; Javakhishvili, Z. 1999. Raptors of Georgia. 86p. Buneba Print publishing. Tbilisi.
Current Courses |
Course Catalog |
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| Bachelor’s level
Master’s level
Bachelor’s level
Master’s level
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2020-2021 Year Bachelor’s level
Master’s level
Doctoral level
2019-2020 Year Bachelor’s level
Master’s level
Doctoral level
2018-2019 Year Master’s level
2017-2018 Year Master’s level
2016-2017 Year Master’s level
2015-2016 Year Master’s level
2014-2015 Year Master’s level
2013-2014 Year Master’s level
2012-2013 Year Master’s level
2011-2012 Year Master’s level
2010-2011 Year უმ. პროფესიული
Master’s level
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