Press Attention
I gave interviews to various science writers and news agencies about my research and filming activities.
- 444.hu (2022) Világszerte veszélyben vannak a papagájok / The worldwide decline of parrots [by Bence Horváth]
- Mongabay (2021) CSI, but for parrots: Study applies criminological tool CRAAVED to wildlife trade [by Grace Dungey and Nick Rodway]
- The Australian National University (2021) Parrot poachers striking while the market’s hot
- Mongabay (2021) Australia’s pivot to plantations may be too late for nearly extinct parrots [by Nick Rodway]
- HVG (2021) „Az emberek gyönyörű esőerdőt akarnak inkább látni, nem azt, hogy vágják ki éppen” [by Emese Dobos]
- Mongabay (2021) Current protected areas not enough to save parrots from extinction: Study [by Liz Kimbrough]
- SDP Noticias (2021) Los loros están al borde de la extinción, advierten [by Fabián Vázquez]
- ZME Science (2021) Parrots are facing extinction, and only policymakers can save them [by Alexandru Micu]
- The Australian National University (2021) Parrots pushed to extinction, despite protection policies
- The Guardian (2020) Study finds only 300 swift parrots could remain as Tasmanian court challenge heard
- Australian Geographic (2020) Less than 300 swift parrots remain in the wild [by Angela Heathcote]
- SciTechDaily (2020) Swift Action Needed to Save Critically Endangered Tasmanian Parrot
- The Tasmanian Greens (2020) Media statements: Swift Parrot Report Confirms Urgent Need to Protect Habitat | Gutwein Must Step in and Save Swift Parrot | Swift Parrot – Decline in Numbers – Logging of Habitat [by Rosalie Woodruff MP]
- The Australian (2020) ‘Shocking’ parrot count demands swift response [by Matthew Denholm]
- The Sydney Morning Herald (2020) Swift parrot numbers freefall as Bob Brown launches anti-logging case [by Nick O’Malley]
- The Canberra Times (2020) ‘Heading towards extinction’: ANU swift parrot genetic study predicts population fewer than 300 [by Adam Holmes]
- The Australian National University (2020) Swift action needed to help critically endangered parrot [by Jessica Fagan]
- The Guardian (2020) Federal government considers lifting ban on importing parrots 25 years after it was introduced [by Lisa Cox]
- Global Forest Watch (2019) Macaws, Movies and a Legacy of Environmental Protection: Q&A with Dr. George Olah [by Sarah Ruiz]
I was interviewed by Global Forest Watch in Washington, DC, about the science and filming behind our Macaw Kingdom documentary we produced in the Peruvian Amazon. The interview was published in two blog posts:
A. First part about the filming
B. Second part about conservation research - Global Forest Watch (2019) Five Creative Projects Using GFW to Protect Forests [by Sarah Ruiz]
Our research documentary was featured as one of the projects that used GFW data. - Conservation Jobs (2019) Genetics Guide Conservation [by Alex Taylor]
- Science Daily (2019) Genetic history of endangered Australian songbird could inspire an encore
- Phys.org (2019) Genetic history of endangered Australian songbird could inspire an encore
- Bioengineer.org (2019) Genetic history of endangered Australian songbird could inspire an encore
- Lajtár Lili Blog (2019) Papagájok végveszélyben / Parrots in peril [by Lili Lajtár]
I was interviewed by a 16-year old nature enthusiast and conservationist in Budapest, Hungary. - Parrots Magazine (2019) People helping parrots: George Olah [by Rosemary Low]
- Business Insiders (2018) Male parrots from an endangered monogamous species are running out of mates, so now they’re hitting up breeding females for sex [by Simon Thomsen]
- ABC News (2018) Endangered swift parrots pushed into tragic love triangles by sugar gliders [by Anna Salleh and Felicity Ogilvie]
- The Guardian (2018) Swift parrot polyamory a new threat to critically endangered species’ survival [by Calla Wahlquist]
- EurekAlert (2018) Study counts the high cost of infidelity for swift parrots
- Tek Crispy (2018) Estudio revela el alto costo de la infidelidad para los periquitos migradores [por Mary Quintero]
- Science Daily (2018) High cost of infidelity for swift parrots
- Phys.org (2018) Study counts the high cost of infidelity for swift parrots
- The Atlantic (2018) The Jaguar Is Made for the Age of Humans [by Nadia Drake]
A story about our face-to-face encounter with a jaguar during a research expedition to the remotest part of the Peruvian Amazon. Nadia Drake is a science journalist of National Geographic, who joined us for this expedition. - The Archaeology News Network (2018) Swift Parrots Bred on Predator-free Islands at Risk of Extinction
- BreitBart (2018) Nomadic population of swift parrots at risk of extinction, research shows
- Phys.org (2018) Swift parrots bred on predator-free islands at risk of extinction
- UPI (2018) Nomadic population of swift parrots at risk of extinction [by Brooks Hays]
- Mongabay (2016) Exceptional beauty, exceptional risk: New study reveals extinction dangers for parrots [by Meghan Gilbert]
- Takepart (2016) A Third of Parrot Species Face Extinction [by John R. Platt]
John R. Platt covers the environment, wildlife, and technology and for TakePart, Scientific American, Audubon, and other publications. This time he interviewed one of my co-authors, Stuart Butchart (head of science for BirdLife International), from our recent study about extinction risk in parrots. - Sinc (2016) Un 28% de las especies de loros, en estado crítico de conservación
- Phys.org (2016) Australian parrots need more protection
- The Australian National University (2016) Australian parrots need more protection [by Kate Prestt]
- Freshpreneur (2014) Interview about The Macaw Project crowdfunding campaign [by Justin Rogers]
- The Australian National University (2014) Using artificial nests to assist and study Macaw Parrots in lowland Peru
- Mongabay (2014) Feather forensics: scientist uses genes to track macaws, aid bird conservation [by Elizabeth Devitt]
An interview about my PhD research in Peru. - Díszmadár Magazin (2010) Magyar zoológus a papagájok nyomában / Hungarian zoologist in the quest for parrots [by Krisztina Bordás]
Television Appearances
I gave interviews to TV channels in Hungary about my research and expeditions.
M1 [Hungarian National TV] – Programme: Kék Bolygó [Blue Planet]
Wildlife trade and COVID-19 (2020)
Report with zoos and scientists about the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the illegal wildlife trade worldwide. I talked about the conservation work to fight against the illegal parrot trade in Indonesia. Watch the short report in Hungarian with English subtitles:
M1 [Hungarian National TV] – Programme: Kék Bolygó [Blue Planet]
Forest fires in the Amazon rainforest (2019)
I was interviewed, among other scientists and NGOs, about the unusually large forest fires worldwide and their effect to the Amazon. The rainforest footage was provided by our NGO, Wildlife Messengers. Watch the short report in Hungarian with English subtitles:
M1 [Hungarian National TV] – Programme: Kék Bolygó [Blue Planet]
The Indonesian expedition (2018)
Interview with Cintia Garai and me about our non-profit organisation, Wildlife Messengers, producing films for conservation. In the programme we also talk about our recent award-winning movie, The Macaw Kingdom, and about a new documentary we were filming about the Indonesian Parrot Project.
M5 [Hungarian National TV] – Programme: Mindenki Akademiája [Everyone’s Academy]
Using genetic techniques for parrot research in the Peruvian Amazon (2017)
I gave a lecture and report about my PhD study in Peru.
M1 [Hungarian National TV] – Programme: Minden Tudás [Omniscience]
Landscape genetics in the Peruvian Amazon (2017)
A report about our landscape genetics studies and their implications to conservation.
Ozone Network [Hungarian Commercial TV] – Programme: Egyenlítő [Equator]
The Candamo expedition (2016)
A one-hour interview about our research expedition in Peruvian Amazon. In the programme also participated my colleagues: Attila Dávid Molnár wildlife filmmaker and Linda Alpern designer.
M1 [Hungarian National TV] – Programme: Kék Bolygó [Blue Planet]
The Candamo expedition (2016)
I was interviewed about the scientific expedition I led to the Candamo valley in the south-eastern Peruvian Amazon.
Interview in the Budapest Zoo (2017)
Oláh György zoológus, aki az elmúlt években a déli félteke számos országában dolgozott a papagájok terepi kutatójaként, nemrégiben előadást tartott Állatkertben a terepen folytatott kutatásainak eredményeiről. Ebben a kisfilmben a fiatal, de máris komoly eredményeket felmutató kutató a Fővárosi Állat- és Növénykert papagájokkal kapcsolatos szakmai munkáját méltatja. Intézményünk már a megnyitás évében is foglalkozott papagájokkal. Az elmúlt években is számos érdekes fajt mutattunk be, részt vettünk a természetvédelmi erőfeszítésekben és sikerrel szaporítottunk több ritka papagájfajt.
Candamo Expedition (2016)
We made a research and filming expedition to Candamo, an extremely remote inter-montane valley in the Peruvian Amazon. Watch below our short video as the first recap of our trip:
Presentations and Invited Lectures
Keynote Address
- King’s Forensics 2022 Symposium: Collaboration, Innovation & Impact, King’s College London, UK | Olah G: Advancing genetic methods in the study of parrot conservation and the influence of trade | 16–17 May 2022 | Booklet PDF | Speakers Abstracts PDF
- IX. International Parrot Convention, Loro Parque Fundación, Tenerife, Spain | Olah G: Status of parrots and tools for their conservation | 24–27 Sep 2018
Conference Presentations