Johannes Fritz
Project Manager
Johannes founded the Waldrappteam in 2002 and has since been leading the efforts to reintroduce the Northern Bald Ibis into Europe. He was already employed as a project manager in the first LIFE project, and he is also responsible for the project team in the new LIFE project. As a project manager, he is primarily responsible for the implementation of the project goals and represents the project to the public. Johannes is a qualified biologist and received his doctorate in 2000 from the University of Vienna. He then worked at the Konrad Lorenz Institute in Altenberg and then Konrad Lorenz Research Center in Grünau, where a sedentary ibis colony was already situated.
Regina Kramer
Project Coordinator
Regina is a curator for research and species protection at Zoo Vienna and has been committed to the Northern Bald Ibises since 2002. She is a board member of the Förderverein Waldrappteam and works as a project coordinator in the new LIFE project. As project coordinator, Regina forms the interface between management and Zoo Vienna, as the project promoter in the ongoing LIFE project.
Bernhard Gönner
Project Administrator
Since 2010, Bernhard has worked with the Waldrappteam and was involved with the first LIFE project, as a project assistant. In the new LIFE project, as a project administrator, he is primarily responsible for financial management of project costs. As an employee of Zoo Vienna, he works full-time for the Northern Bald Ibis. In addition to settling financial issues, his main tasks are currently the coordination of the project partners and the implementation of measures against electrocutions, just to name a few. Bernhard studied biology with a focus on zoology at the University of Vienna.
Lisbet Siebert-Lang
Project Assistant - Maternity leave
Since 2022, Lisbet has been a member of the new LIFE project team. As a project assistant, she supports the management of all large and small tasks that arise daily. She is also an employee of Zoo Vienna and works full time for the Northern Bald Ibises. Her main tasks are currently creating and maintaining the website, managing the GPS data, and supporting public relations. Lisbet studied biology at the University of Leipzig and, after graduating, worked for some time as a manager for environmental and species protection at Hellabrunn Zoo in Munich.
Barbara Steininger
Project Assistant
Barbara has been part of the project since 2023 and, in 2023 and 2024, acted as a foster mother, preparing young northern bald ibises for release into the wild. She completed her bachelor's degree in biology with a focus on zoology at the University of Vienna. She is currently pursuing her master's degree in wildlife ecology and wildlife management at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences. As part of her studies, she has already raised greylag goose goslings at the Konrad Lorenz Research Station in Grünau im Almtal. Since 2025, she has been working as a substitute project assistant.
Daniela Trobe
Bird Manager
Since 2010, Daniela has been involved with the Waldrappteam and was already working as a bird manager in the first LIFE project. Her main task is to monitor GPS data for the care of the population, tag animals and, if necessary, to carry out emergency measures. Daniela studied behavioral biology and zoology at the University of Graz and after her studies in 2010 and 2011, she worked as a foster mother during the ibis releases.
Corinna Esterer
Bird Operator
Corinna has been a member of the Waldrappteam since 2013 and has been working in bird management since 2019. Her responsibilities primarily include monitoring and supervising the breeding colonies on site, tagging birds with transmitters, and carrying out emergency measures when necessary. She studied Environmental Security at the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan and subsequently worked continuously as a foster mother for the Waldrappteam from 2014 to 2018. In addition, Corinna works part-time as a dog trainer at www.FairHundst.de
Laura Stefani
Communication Italy - Maternity leave
Since 2020, Laura has been responsible for the communication of the Northern Bald Ibis project in Italy. In particular, she deals with the issue of illegal bird hunting and the relations and correspondence with Italian organisations and authorities. She is a biologist who specialised in ecology and biodiversity at the University of Innsbruck, and is also trained in forest education. She speaks fluent Italian and German and has very good English and Spanish skills.
Angela Di Pumpo
Communication Italy
Angela holds a degree in Biology with a specialization in Environmental Sciences and has extensive international field experience, particularly in bird conservation. In 2022 she joined the NBI LIFE-project in Italy, coordinating anti-poaching initiatives with volunteers, law enforcement, lawyers, and NGOs to advance policy change. She later managed a LIFE-project in France before rejoining the team. Today Angela works on the campaign against illegal bird hunting, driven by her strong commitment to wildlife protection in both her professional and personal life.
Roberta Peroni
Communication Italy
Roberta Peroni has been part of the project team in Italy since 2023. Her role as campaign manager against illegal hunting leads her to manage relations with the Italian Police Forces, to promote knowledge of the species and to favour its reintroduction. She has always been interested in the environment and animals and she is co-founder of an association of volunteers that rescues and recovers a large number of wild animals in distress.
Anne-Gabriela Schmalstieg
Site Manager Überlingen
Anne has been a collaborator with the Waldrappteam since 2012 and was part of the management team during the first LIFE project. Over the course of six years, from 2014 to 2019, she was a foster mother for the young birds. Since 2020, she takes care of the breeding colony in Überlingen. Anna studied Landscape Development in Osnabrück. Today, she works full-time for the Heinz Sielmann Foundation.
Oliver Habel
Site Manager Burghausen
Oliver has been a part of the Waldrappteam since 2014 and has therefore been a part of the first LIFE project. He is responsible for the colony management in Burghausen and coordinates the public relations work on site. Oliver studied zoology in Vienna, but is actually a glass artist full time. He runs a workshop for glass jewelry and art in the old city of Burghausen.
Markus Unsöld
Scientific consultant
Markus Unsöld has been a member of the Waldrappteam since 2003 and took over the role of foster parent in 2008 and 2009. Already during his biology studies at the LMU Munich, he was involved with the Northern Bald Ibis and investigated the sun-bathing behaviour of ibises for his diploma thesis. Markus' main job is as curator of the ornithology section at the Munich State Zoological Collection.
Chúss Fernández
Wintering Area Andalusia
Chúss Fernández became involved with the Waldrappteam as a member of the ground team during the first human-led migration to Andalucía in 2023. She lives in southern Spain, in an area with three sedentary breeding colonies, and has been a volunteer in the Cádiz reintroduction project for over 10 years. Birds have always been her passion, and she is deeply committed to protecting biodiversity, with the Northern Bald Ibis holding a very special place in her heart. Chúss serves as the Waldrappteam’s point of contact in Spain, focusing on field monitoring, data collection, and managing incidents involving the Northern Bald Ibis. She also contributes to environmental education, sharing the story of this remarkable species and promoting its conservation.
