Wildlife Conservation Research Unit

Regulating the use and trade of wild species remains a key challenge for conserving biodiversity, given at least 50,000 wild species are used for food, medicinal products, construction materials, and to support livelihoods globally.

A new paper examines ‘reverse listing’, an approach which would ban the harvest and trade in all wild species by default, unless they can be demonstrated to be ecologically sustainable.

Researchers explain that reverse listing is not a universal solution for regulating international wildlife trade and that effective policies need to be underpinned by robust evidence, be sufficiently resourced, and give careful consideration to impacts on both wild species and the people who depend on them.

Read the commentary led by Dan Challender and WildCRU’s Amy Hinsley 👉 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-026-03161-8

For World Lion Day, we are busting some of the biggest myths about one of the world's most iconic big cats.

From who really does the hunting to the greatest threats they face today, the truth might surprise you.

Swipe through to test your knowledge and discover why protecting lions and their habitats is so important.

Keeping KAZA connected for wildlife.

Using nearly 48,000 wildlife occurrences from camera traps and spoor surveys, researchers mapped habitat suitability and movement corridors for seven key mammal species across the KAZA landscape.

The findings highlight the central KAZA region (from the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park to Hwange National Park) as the most extensive connected habitat.

Importantly, many critical wildlife dispersal areas lie outside protected areas, and no single species can represent the connectivity needs of all others. This reinforces the importance of multi-species analysis for conservation planning and integrating wildlife corridors into land-use decisions to support coexistence between people and wildlife.

Read the paper led by Lara Sousa and Robynne Kotze 👉 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-58440-y

Research does not end with data collection or analysis - it becomes most valuable when it is documented, published, and shared. Publishing research strengthens the scientific record and enables others to build on existing knowledge.

Diogo Veríssimo explains why publishing is both a practical necessity and an ethical responsibility for researchers in a new WildCRU blog.

Read here 👉 https://www.wildcru.org/news/why-do-researchers-publish-papers/

📸 Dylan Feldmeier

International Tiger Day 🐅

Protecting tigers means protecting the landscapes they depend on.

At WildCRU, our research spans nine countries across Southeast Asia, where our team works with valued partners to understand tiger ecology, reduce human–tiger conflict, model habitat connectivity and help inform national conservation strategies. Our goal is to provide the evidence needed for effective conservation decisions.

In Bhutan, we are working with collaborators to understand how future development and restoration plans could affect tigers, helping ensure that economic development and biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand.

Learn more 👉 https://www.wildcru.org/species/tigers/

📸 Camera trap image of tigers in Bhutan (Department of Forests and Park Services)

World Nature Conservation Day

At WildCRU, we believe that the most effective conservation is grounded in evidence. From mitigating human–wildlife conflict to informing global policy and supporting species recovery, our research helps turn knowledge into action for wildlife and the people who share landscapes with it.

Today, we are celebrating everyone working to secure a future where both people and wildlife can thrive.

Learn more about our work 👉 https://www.wildcru.org/

WildCRU’s 2025 Impact Report is now live!

From understanding wildlife behaviour and threatened populations to supporting community-led conservation and informing policy, WildCRU's research is helping deliver positive outcomes for both people and wildlife around the world.

"As we look towards our 40th year, we will be doing all we can to deliver world-class science, conduct effective training, and learn from conservation implementation around the world." - Amy Dickman

Read the full 2025 Impact Report 👉 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UcQPDFqVzhwsV2me7yAGb_FaFJv7tqPH/view?usp=sharing

Deer management is often seen as highly divisive, but is public opinion really that polarised?

Researchers surveyed 4,830 people across four U.S. regions and found surprising agreement. Over 66% of respondents supported deer management when it improved outcomes for people and nature, such as reducing Lyme disease risk, improving road safety, protecting biodiversity, and promoting forest regeneration.

Support for using predators (e.g. wolves, coyotes and cougars) to reduce deer populations was much lower (