Professor Petar Beron turns 85!
On March 14, 1940, in Sofia, the zoologist, currently Professor Emeritus at the National Museum of Natural History, Dr. Petar Beron, was born. For over 70 years, he has tirelessly studied the animal world on Earth. If there are still encyclopaedists left on the planet, it can be confidently said that he is one of them. There is no topic related to the natural sciences (and not only!) on which he does not have something to say, almost always based on his own experience. Professor Beron’s interests and worldview are impressive, and they are so not only because from a young age he was interested in everything related to nature and learned from prominent scientists such as Ivan Buresh and Alexander Valkanov, but also because of his numerous scientific travels across different parts of the Earth. Few Bulgarian scientists have explored as many countries as he has. The issue is not just about visiting a country and conducting any scientific research. Petar Beron is one of those people who set impossible goals for themselves, to be achieved in inaccessible places with limited resources. I wouldn’t use the word “ambitious” to describe the nature of his projects, because in most cases they sound like a ten-year strategy of a scientific institute, not a project of someone who has only great enthusiasm and a computer. This is clearly evident from the titles of some of his books: “High Altitude Isopoda, Arachnida and Myriapoda in the Old World,” “Zoogeography of Arachnida,” “Panorama of Bulgarian Zoology”? Each one of them is, in fact, an encyclopaedia because it combines thousands of scientific works that have been read, carefully analyzed, and systematically presented, and the data is used daily by scientists worldwide. I don’t even know where to place his monumental ten-volume work Acarorum Catalogus, which provides a comprehensive review of certain mites around the world and their hosts.
His scientific contributions are so numerous that it is difficult to list them, and thank goodness they are properly documented for future generations by the man himself in three autobiographical books (the forth is coming) and over 10 popular ones. The total number of books written by Petar Beron is truly mind-blowing — nearly 45! — and this brings him close to his equally famous relative and namesake, who authored more than 25 books on philosophy, natural sciences, cosmology, physics, grammar, and more. Not to mention his “smaller,” but no less significant works, such as 130 scientific papers and hundreds of popular science articles.
In addition to his colossal scientific work, Professor Beron is also known worldwide for the collections he has gathered from the most remote corners of the planet — from the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea, to the inhospitable hamadas of Syria and Iraq, across the savannas of Africa and the semi-glaciated peaks of the Karakoram, Himalayas, Andes, and the African high mountains of Rwenzori, Kenya, and Kilimanjaro. His strong interest in high-altitude and cave fauna has laid the foundation for future generations in the study of caves and high mountains. The recognition that Prof. Beron has received for his enormous scientific contribution is expressed not only through official awards from the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences — the honorary badge “For Merit to BAS” (2000) and the honorary badge of BAS “Marin Drinov” with a ribbon (2010) — but also through the acknowledgment of dozens of his colleagues, who have named over 100 species and 7 genera of newly discovered organisms from around the world after him. The eponym “beroni” is carried by representatives of almost all major groups of invertebrates, including millipedes, spiders, snails, crustaceans, worms, beetles, caddisflies, and even fungi!
For his particularly significant contributions to culture, on October 18, 2010, the President of Bulgaria, Georgi Parvanov, awarded him the Order of “St. St. Cyril and Methodius” — Collar.
Still, I cannot fail to mention his contributions to the development of the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia where he has worked since 1978 and served as director for more than 11 years (from December 15, 1993, to July 11, 2005). During this exceptionally difficult period for the country, thanks to his active involvement, the museum was able to develop significantly. Many young scientists were appointed (including the author of this text), some of whom are now associate professors, full professors, and department heads. During his tenure, the museum’s exhibition expanded with new and interesting dioramas (white rhino, cheetahs, Amur tiger), including a completely new hall (Mammals), and the collections were enriched with exotic species. Part of the building was also renovated under the “Beautiful Bulgaria” project. It is worth mentioning the little-known fact that Dr. Beron opposed the investment plans for the complete reconstruction of the central city area, which included the demolition of the museum.
I am sure that everyone could add much more to what is written here and share amusing personal stories with him, and as trivial as it may sound, what has been said is still too little.
On behalf of all the museum staff, his long-time friends, and colleagues, I would like to wish Professor Beron much health and creative longevity, as well as enough time to complete the scientific projects he has started. I also hope that he will carry out the planned expeditions (Ethiopia and Pakistan are already waiting for him!), so he can continue to inspire us with new ideas, scientific discoveries, and expeditions for many years to come.
March 14, 2025
Prof. Pavel Stoev
Director of the National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
