Christine Gesell Stevens (March 10, 1918 – October 11, 2002) was an American animal welfare activist and conservationist.
Christine Gesell Stevens
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | March 10, 1918 |
| Died | October 11, 2002 (aged 84) |
| Occupation | Animal welfare activist |
Stevens was born in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] She studied at the University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (1936-1938) and at the Society of Arts and Crafts in Detroit (1938-1942). She married Roger L. Stevens in 1938. They had a daughter, Christabel.[1]
Stevens founded the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) in 1951 and the Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL) in 1955.[1][2][3] Under Stevens's leadership the SAPL succeeded in helping to pass animal protection laws including the Animal Welfare Act, Humane Slaughter Act, Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.[3]
Stevens was the president of AWI until her death in 2002.[4][5][6] She is considered the mother of the Animal Welfare Act and the Endangered Species Act. She took no salary for her AWI work.[7] Stevens was an honorary trustee of the Bat Conservation International and the New York State Humane Association.[1]
She died at Georgetown University Hospital.[6] The Christine Stevens Wildlife Awards was named in her honour.[8]