David Burnie is a graduate of the Zoological Society of London and a fellow of the society. He began his work as a nature preserve ranger and biologist, and has since built a thriving career as a wildlife and plant writer and consultant. More than 140 books and multimedia products on nature and the environment, including DK's Animal and Natural History encyclopedias, have been authored or contributed to by him. In 2005, he was a finalist for the Royal Society's Aventis Prize.