In 1971, its zoological collections were recognised as being of national and international importance and it became a charitable trust (No 268830). In 1986, it was further recognised as a Registered Scientific Institution by the Department of the Environment and was listed under CITES.

Under the leadership of David Harrison (James's younger son), the Institute increasingly focused on the study and conservation of mammals. Conservation initiatives were concentrated in Arabia and scientific publications were primarily concerned with the Old World tropics and subtropics.

More recently, the Institute has been involved in research, training and scientific expeditions to East Africa, the Indian Subcontinent and South-East Asia. It also researches actively the Tertiary and Quaternary UK mammal faunas.

Summary of achievements

•World centre of expertise on Arabian mammals

•World centre of expertise on southern and South-East Asian bats

•Advisors to a series of global initiatives

•Scientific exploration in five continents

•Zoological collections (Recent and fossil) of world renown

•Publications by staff of over 250 scientific papers, books and CD-Roms

•Training of UK and foreign-based PhD candidates

•Successful organisation of international conferences in the UK and abroad