in march 2004 he retired at kyoto university. his lecture for a full room was riveting, especially given the historical details of how our knowledge has grown over the years and the critical role japanese scientists have played in modern primatology. many friends and colleagues from all over the world had come, because nishida fostered excellent relations and was active in the conservation movement. he successfully lobbied the tanzanian government to accord the mahale mountains the status of national park, in 1985, and established the mahale wildlife conservation society, in 1994. he also led the attempt with the unesco to make the great apes a "world heritage species".