Wildlife Conservation Research Unit

06/10/2026

National Badger Day 🦡

Did you know that WildCRU researchers have studied the European badger for nearly 40 years?

At Wytham Woods, Oxford, the population is one of the densest studied anywhere in the world, with around 200 – 250 adult badgers and 20 – 80 cubs born each year.

Long-term research is helping scientists understand badger behaviour, social lives and genetics, as well as how wildlife responds to challenges including changing landscapes, weather and climate change.

Find out more 👉 https://www.wildcru.org/programmes/badger-programme/

29/09/2026

We were delighted to welcome the team from Saola Foundation for Annamite Mountains Conservation to WildCRU to explore the extraordinary wildlife of the bioregion.

Robert Timmins (Technical Director) and Phonesouk 'Hamnoy' Chanthalavong (Field Team Leader), accompanied by Lorraine Scotson (CEO), discussed the rich rainforest and limestone karst landscape of the Annamite Mountains Bioregion that spans Lao, Viet Nam, and Cambodia, providing a home to species that have persisted for millions of years.

The team also emphasised why combining indigenous skills and knowledge with scientific expertise and technology is paramount for conserving species.

Thank you for sharing your work with us.

24/09/2026

Congratulations to the new Dr Emily Madsen! 👏

Emily’s PhD research examined the factors shaping carnivore communities across sub-Saharan Africa, showing that predator interactions are far more complex and context-dependent than traditional ecological theories suggest.

By combining camera-trap data, local ecological knowledge, and ecological modelling, her work revealed how human activity, habitat, and species-specific traits influenced carnivore populations, providing important insights for conservation and long-term monitoring.

A huge well done from everyone at WildCRU!

23/09/2026

Can religion shape human–tiger coexistence?

Around the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in central India, researchers conducted interviews across 17 villages to explore how religious beliefs shape attitudes towards tigers.

Greater religiosity was linked to more caring and empathetic attitudes towards wildlife, while belief in divine protection was associated with both lower perceived risk from tigers and greater use of measures to reduce that risk.

Understanding culture, faith and local beliefs can be vital to supporting human–tiger coexistence.

Read the paper led by Sathvika Krishnan 👉 https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70423

10/09/2026

We are thrilled to see recent PhD researcher Jenny Linden featured in new book ‘Scientists Making a Difference’ by Dr Shini Somara.

Jenny’s research investigates the potential impacts of climate change on the endangered African wild dog. In the book, she shares what inspired her to become a scientist, and why she believes science and working with local people is so important for conservation.

Created by the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, Imperial College and What on Earth! books to inspire young people to explore science careers and the many routes you can take to work in science.

See a short interview with Jenny 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyt8g09JGbw&list=PL5VwXQiaY1II2h5QlYF44m_u-SKl2kzx7

09/09/2026

Congratulations to four members of the Biodiversity, Conservation and Nature Recovery Class of 2026 who have completed their Master’s with WildCRU as part of the course delivered by the School of Geography and the Environment.

Luca, George, Alex and Hamish have made valuable contributions to conservation research, with particular focus on conflict and coexistence, conservation management, and the role of wildlife in tourism.

Wishing all of our students the best for their next chapter!

Find out more about the course 👉 https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/study/graduate/bcnr/index.html

02/09/2026

Do tigers and leopards use Bhutan’s landscapes in the same way, and at the same spatial scales?

A new study draws on camera-trap data from Bhutan’s largest biodiversity survey (the second National Tiger Survey, 2021- 2022) conducted by the Department of Forests and Park Services (Royal Government of Bhutan).

Using Bayesian* multi-scale spatial occupancy modelling, the study examined habitat use by tigers and leopards, compared their ecological niches, and assessed patterns of co-occurrence between the two species.

A key finding was the striking contrast in habitat use, with tigers more strongly associated with protected areas whereas leopards made greater use of landscapes outside protected areas.

The study highlights the need to tailor large-carnivore conservation strategies to the species’ differing ecological requirements and to the social and economic contexts of the landscapes they occupy. It also emphasises the importance of considering the spatial scales at which environmental and anthropogenic factors influence species occurrence, while accounting for spatial patterns in ecological data to reduce bias and improve predictive accuracy.

Read the paper, lead by PhD researcher Singye Wangmo 👉 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.112050

📸 Department of Forests and Park Services (Royal Government of Bhutan)



*Bayesian modelling is a statistical approach that combines prior information with observed data to estimate species occurrence and properly quantify uncertainty in the resulting estimates.

31/08/2026

New research from the high Himalayas of western Nepal reveals how Himalayan wolves adjust their activity in step with key prey across the seasons.

Using camera-trap data collected across 336 km², researchers found that wolves were predominantly active during the day, with their activity overlapping with Himalayan marmots and Kiang.

The seasonal pattern was particularly striking: during the warmer months, wolf activity closely correlated with Himalayan marmots. When marmots entered hibernation during the colder season, wolf activity instead became significantly associated with Kiang.

These findings highlight how predator–prey relationships shift through time and why understanding the effects of livestock and human disturbance on these temporal interactions can help inform conservation and coexistence strategies in the Himalayas.

Read the paper led by Antonio Sampedro and coauthored by WildCRU’s Geraldine Werhahn 👉 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04362

28/08/2026

The Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) is an evolutionarily distinct wolf lineage adapted to the high elevations of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau.

Using non-invasive samples collected during Bhutan’s nationwide snow leopard survey, researchers analysed mitochondrial DNA from what were confirmed to be 13 wolf samples. All sequences clustered within the Himalayan wolf lineage, providing the first genetic confirmation of this distinctive wolf in Bhutan.

Expanding genetic sampling across Bhutan will now be important for understanding population size, genetic diversity and connectivity, guiding conservation of this threatened High Asian carnivore.

Read the paper led by Tashi Dhendup and coauthored by WildCRU’s Geraldine Werhahn 👉 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74201

28/08/2026