One of the world's leading primate conservationists, from Oxford Brookes University, has been included on The New Year Honours 2024 list.

Recognised as a global expert on nocturnal primates and a conservation partner with wildlife charity People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES), Professor Nekaris will receive an OBE awarded by King Charles III.

The award shows her unwavering dedication to slow lorises, unique venomous primates facing immense threat from illegal hunting and habitat destruction, as well as other night-time primates, since 1994.

Years of persistent and fruitful work have earned her the esteemed OBE.

Professor Nekaris' contribution includes conducting crucial studies on slender and pygmy lorises in India, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia, providing the scientific foundation that led to slow lorises being elevated to CITES Appendix I, training wildlife officers in nocturnal mammal identification across eight Asian nations and considerably more.

Among the achievements is founding a world-recognized NGO, the Little Fireface Project, in 2011.

The achievements of the Little Fireface Project are substantial, extending from building wildlife bridges ensuring lorises' safe passage to providing major support to rescue and rehabilitation efforts of slow lorises.

Professor Nekaris said: "Researching and understanding the threats small nocturnal mammals like slow and slender lorises face and finding viable solutions to protect them has been my life’s work.

"To be recognised with an OBE is an incredible privilege."

She extended her thanks to PTES for their unwavering support, stating that without them, it would have been impossible to advance the research and conservation of lorises extensively.

Having been supported by PTES since 2002, Professor Nekaris is among the five conservation partners receiving up to £100,000 over five years.

This valuable resource enables efficient conservation action.

Prof. Nekaris has played a crucial role in the conservation of every loris species, collectively classified as threatened due to illegal pet trade and forest loss for agricultural expansion in Asia.

Aside from conservation, her work has an impressive academic impact, penning 331 research papers, earning almost 9,000 citations across ethnozoology, anthropology and conservation education, and supervising over 160 PhD and MSc students.

Nida Al-Fulaij, the CEO of PTES, praised Professor Nekaris's recognition on the Honours List, said: "We are absolutely delighted that Anna has received an OBE for her services to conservation, which is so hugely deserved."

The New Year Honours Lists celebrate outstanding accomplishments and services of exceptional individuals across the UK every year.

Professor Nekaris will collect her OBE in 2024.