Erkki Pulliainen

Who is Erkki Pulliainen?

Erkki Ossi Olavi Pulliainen is a Finnish biologist and politician and former member of Finnish Parliament, representing the Green League. He was first elected to the parliament in 1987 and was continuously a member until the election in spring 2011. From 1985 to 1999 he was also a member of the city council of Oulu. Pulliainen has held positions of trust in numerous scientific and political organisations.

Pulliainen was born in Varkaus, Finland. He has a Ph.D. in zoology and a master's degree in agriculture and forestry. During his career he has been the professor of zoology at the University of Oulu and the dean of the faculty of science until his retirement. He was also a reader at the University of Helsinki where he performed extensive research on large carnivores in the Nordic fauna. Pulliainen has published more than 500 scientific articles and more than 30 books. An expert on wolves and dogs, he is popularly known as "Susi" Pulliainen.

Pulliainen is married to Riitta Haaranen and they have three children, Annariina, Annamiina, and Rauli. He also has two children, Harri, Virpi, from a previous marriage.