Academician Ion Ganea – founder of the school of ornitology in the Republic Of Moldova, 100 years since birth

Today, July 22, 2026, the scientific community of the Republic of Moldova and, in particular, the staff of the Institute of Zoology of Moldova State University, celebrates 100 years since the birth of Academician Ion Ganea, a personality of exceptional scientific rigor, unanimously recognized as the founder of the national school of ornithology.

Born on July 22, 1926, in Soroca, a city with a centuries-old historical tradition, and passed away on April 4, 1993 in Chisinau, Academician Ion Ganea transformed his passion for nature into an exceptional career dedicated to research and biodiversity conservation.

His research opened up pioneering directions in various fields: ornithology, paleozoology and applied ecology. He was among the first scientists to promote the reduction of excessive pesticide use in agriculture, demonstrating that insectivorous birds can successfully replace synthetic pesticides. His concept of biocenotic oases in orchards offered a sustainable solution for the balance of agroecosystems. Another important direction of his activity was the development of methods for monitoring bird migration using radar to prevent bird collisions with aircraft, publishing the landmark work Radar Ornithology (1991).

His contributions also extend to the field of paleontology, where the study of fossil fauna allowed him to describe 17 taxa new to science (12 species and 5 genera of fossil birds) and to demonstrate that, hundreds of thousands of years ago, the territory of Moldova was populated by exotic species, such as the ostrich.

His life's work is reflected in a legacy that includes over 450 scientific papers, including 35 monographs. Among these, the soulful work "The Rooster in the World and in Our Souls" remains a rare example of symbiosis between accurate ornithological analysis and sensitivity to national ethno-folklore.

"He was a great romantic of science, who spent himself exhaustingly fighting for ecological causes and for the protection of the winged world, which he loved so much."

Today, the researchers of the Institute of Zoology, together with the entire academic community of USM, express their deep gratitude and respect for the memory of Academician Ion Ganea. His teachings, passion for nature and academic rigor remain the golden benchmarks by which we guide our daily activity.

Eternal memory and pious homage to the Founder of our ornithology!

Dr. Natalia Sochircă, Dr. Professor Andrei Munteanu