News and Opinion

Clear strategies needed to reduce bushmeat hunting

Disease prevention and protection of species from the wildlife trade require differentiated strategies

What actions played a crucial role in curbing the rhinoceros poaching in Nepal?

Nepal has almost eliminated rhinoceros poaching by building community trust, inter-agency coordination and cooperation, enhanced law enforcement and better-training of enforcement staff in criminal investigation and prosecutions.

Learning about penguin’s diet may save marine life, study finds

Researchers at Monash University and Phillip Island Nature Parks develop a novel index to determine the prey availability of little penguins which can help inform the sustainable future of their food supply.

New study reveals rarity of the Spirit Bear and gaps in their protection in the Great Bear Rainforest

New research has identified that the small genetic change responsible for Spirit bears - a rare, white-coated form of black bears – is up to 50% rarer in the Great Bear Rainforest than previously estimated. The study also indicates that geographic hotspots, where the Spirit bear version of the gene was especially prominent lack adequate protection from resource extraction.

How to bring conservation messaging into wildlife-based tourism

A new study from the University of Helsinki suggests that wildlife-based tourism operators should be key partners in educating and inspiring tourists to take informed conservation action. The study, published in People and Nature, introduces a toolbox of ideas for improving wildlife-based tourism operations.

African lion numbers are being overestimated by survey methods

Two Griffith led collaborations published this week indicate that Lion populations in Africa may be lower than current estimates suggest.

Research shows recovering pine marten population benefits red squirrels, but the grey squirrel still poses a problem in urban areas

Research led by Queen’s University Belfast has found that whilst red squirrels are responding positively to the increased presence of the pine marten across Ireland and Britain, its ability to control the grey squirrel is limited by the lack of forest cover and the presence of urban refugia.

Human presence weakens social relationships of giraffes

Living close to human settlements disturbs the social networks of giraffes. They have weaker bonds with other giraffes and fewer interactions with other members of the species, an international study led by the University of Zurich on the social structure of over 500 female giraffes in Tanzania has shown.

Indigenous voices reveal key strategies for navigating the challenging return of sea otters

Understanding deer damage is crucial when planting new forests

Scientists at the University of Southampton and Forest Research say understanding the risk of damage by deer to new and existing forests in Britain is crucial when considering their expansion.

West African lions show no preference between national parks and hunting zones

A University of Michigan-led study, believed to be the largest wildlife camera wildlife camera survey ever undertaken in West Africa, finds West African lions surprisingly show no preference between national parks and trophy-hunting areas.

Fishing for Mammals: How DNA from rivers could revolutionise mammal detection on land

Scientists from the University of Salford have identified that DNA collected from river water is a new and effective way of monitoring the entire community of mammals on the landscape.

What’s good for livestock can be good for wildlife

With protected areas only covering 15% of the earth’s surface, it’s essential to conserve biodiversity outside of these places. New research looks at southern Kenya to explore how maintaining large open spaces can allow herders, their livestock and wildlife to co-exist.