In Memoriam: Gábor Rácz-Fodor

(Photo credit: Péter Pál Hajas)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gábor Rácz-Fodor, former Director General and Expert Member of the CIC.

Mr. Rácz-Fodor was a distinguished and long-standing member within the CIC Network, notably overseeing the first years of the CIC Administrative Office’s move to Budakeszi from Paris during his tenure as Director General between 1999-2001.

Demonstrating a clear passion for wildlife and conservation over his long and illustrious career, Mr. Rácz-Fodor’s leaves behind a strong mark in the world of conservation both in his home nation of Hungary and further afield.

In Hungary, he was perhaps best known for serving in numerous positions within the Ministry of Agriculture’s Wildlife Management Department, culminating in him holding the position of Chief Advisor.

This allowed him to support national sustainable wildlife management practices with his technical expertise as a biologist and wildlife engineer

In his local region of Dunazug, he served as Chief Hunter, acting as a liaison between government agencies and hunting stakeholders to ensure that activities were carried out sustainably.

Adding to this were his endeavours in education and academia. He was honorary advisor of the Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences at the University of Szeged, and taught as a guest lecturer at the Institute for Wildlife Conservation.

He was also a published author, whose most important works – Pictorial History of Hunting Literature (1998) and Hunting Management, Hunting Science (2005) – remain a rich source of information for those interested in the marriage between hunting and sustainable wildlife management.

The CIC team conveys its sincerest condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Rácz-Fodor, who will be remembered for his brilliance in his work and kindness as an individual.