Who Is Delia Owens? Age, Biography and Wiki
As of 2025, Delia Owens is 76 years old. She was born in Montana, USA, and her passion for wildlife and storytelling has significantly influenced her writing. Her debut novel, Where the Crawdads Sing, released in 2018, achieved critical acclaim and commercial success, further establishing her reputation as a bestselling author. Owens's background in zoology provides a rich backdrop for her narratives, often steeped in themes of nature and isolation.
| Occupation | Conservationist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 4, 1949 |
| Age | 76 Years |
| Birth Place | N/A |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country |
Popularity
Delia Owens's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Though specific details about Delia Owens's height and weight are not publicly available, she is generally described as having a slender build often befitting individuals engaged in outdoor activities and wildlife conservation.
- Height: Estimated at around 5 feet 6 inches.
- Weight: Approximately 130 lbs (not confirmed).
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Regarding her personal life, Delia Owens has largely maintained privacy. Previously married to E. L. Owens, the couple shared a life of adventure in Africa that deeply influenced her work. Currently, it remains ambiguous whether Owens is in a romantic relationship or has a boyfriend, as she tends to keep her personal affairs out of the public eye.
Owens grew up in Thomasville in southern Georgia; she has mostly lived in or near true wilderness. She and her then husband, Mark, were biology students at the University of Georgia; she received a Bachelor of Science in zoology there and a PhD in animal behavior from the University of California, Davis. She knew she wanted to be a writer, but she decided on a career in science.
Net Worth and Salary
In 2025, Delia Owens's estimated net worth is around $5 million. Her financial success stems primarily from her bestselling novels, with Where the Crawdads Sing earning millions in sales and even being adapted into a movie. Besides her literary earnings, her former zoological career and advocacy for conservation add substantial value to her profile.
Career, Business and Investments
Owens's career is multifaceted. Initially, she worked as a zoologist, conducting research in Africa's wilderness. This deep connection to nature not only shaped her worldview but also found expression in her storytelling.
Her literary career took off with the publication of her first book, leading to ongoing projects and likely future publications. In addition to writing, she remains involved in conservationism, often speaking at events to raise awareness about wildlife and environmental preservation.
The couple moved to Africa in 1974, travelling for some time before making camp in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana. Cry of the Kalahari was written about the couple's experience there. After they campaigned against the local cattle industry, Botswanan government officials expelled them from the country.
The Owenses then settled in North Luangwa National Park, Zambia, and later in Mpika, Zambia in the early 1990s. Cry of the Kalahari and her two other non-fictional bestselling books, The Eye of the Elephant and Secrets of the Savanna, all concern the couple's research and conservation work.
In Zambia they contributed to reducing the poaching of elephants, by helping poachers earn a living with skills such as beekeeping, carpentry, midwifery, and weaving.
Social Network
Delia Owens has a growing presence on social media, helping her connect with fans and discuss her passions for literature and wildlife. Her accounts generally highlight her writing journey, conservation efforts, and glimpses into her life. Here are some notable platforms where you can follow her:
- Instagram: @deliaowens
- Twitter: @Delia_Owens
On March 30, 1996, the ABC news-magazine show Turning Point aired a documentary titled "Deadly Game: The Mark and Delia Owens Story", which included the filmed murder of an alleged poacher, executed while lying collapsed on the ground after having already been shot.
The victim is not identified by the story's narrator, the journalist Meredith Vieira, nor is the identity of the person or persons who fired the fatal shots off-camera disclosed. The ABC script refers to the victim as a "trespasser".
The editor-in-chief of The Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg subsequently interviewed Chris Everson, the ABC cameraman who filmed the killing of the alleged poacher. Everson told Goldberg that it was not a Zambian game scout but Christopher Owens who fired the fatal shots.
Goldberg reported in an article called "The Hunted" in The New Yorker in 2010 that the Zambian police detective in charge of the subsequent investigation, Biemba Musole, had concluded that Mark Owens, with the help of his scouts, placed the victim's body in a cargo net, attached it to his helicopter, and then dropped it into a nearby lagoon.
Musole led an effort to identify the alleged poacher, but did not succeed. The former Zambian national police commissioner, Graphael Musamba, told Goldberg that the investigation had been stymied by the absence of a body: "The bush is the perfect place to commit murder … The animals eat the evidence."
Education
Delia Owens's education is firmly rooted in biology and environmental science. She graduated with a degree in zoology from the University of Georgia and later earned a Ph.D. This academic foundation underpins her understanding of ecological themes, greatly influencing her novels.
She received a Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Georgia, and a PhD in animal behavior from the University of California, Davis.
