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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 13h

Straight from winning the IFAW Animal Action Award, we were thrilled to welcome Diploma alumni and wildlife biologist Liomba-Junior Mathe (Cheetah Conservation Fund) back to share his experience advancing carnivore conservation and community-led initiatives in the Horn of Africa. @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 16h

Leo is a former WildCRU Diploma student and long-time field assistant, then leader, of the Hwange Long Shields Lion Guardian Programme. The IFAW Award acknowledges over a decade of work Leo has dedicated to helping rural communities live more safely alongside lions and large carnivores.

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 16h

Congratulations to Liomba-Junior Mathe who has been recognised at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) Animal Action Awards for his extensive contributions to the fields of conservation and coexistence. A huge well done from the WildCRU team! 👏 @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 12/10/2026

How do you monitor lions and leopards across vast landscapes, especially when they are elusive, widely dispersed and mostly active at night? Join Dr Jonathan Growcott to discover how emerging AI technologies are transforming large carnivore conservation. eventbrite.co.uk/e/listening-...

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

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.

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

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.

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

National Badger Day 🦡 Did you know that WildCRU researchers have studied the European badger for nearly 40 years? Find out more 👉 wildcru.org/programmes/b... @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

Robert Timmins (Technical Director) and Phonesouk 'Hamnoy' Chanthalavong (Field Team Leader), accompanied by Lorraine Scotson (CEO), emphasised why combining indigenous skills and knowledge with scientific expertise and technology is paramount for conserving species. 2/2

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

We were delighted to welcome the team from Saola Foundation for Annamite Mountains Conservation to discuss the extraordinary wildlife of the bioregion spanning Lao, Viet Nam, and Cambodia. 1/2

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

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. Well done from WildCRU! 2/2

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 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. 1/2 @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Greater religiosity was linked to more caring and empathetic attitudes towards wildlife, while belief in divine protection was associated with lower perceived risk from tigers and greater use of measures to reduce risk. 2/2

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Can religion shape human–tiger coexistence? Around the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in India, researchers conducted interviews across 17 villages to explore how religious beliefs shape attitudes towards tigers. Paper led by Sathvika Krishnan 👉 doi.org/10.1002/pan3... 1/2 @biology.ox.ac.uk

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Reposted by WildCRU, Oxford

Oxford Biology @biology.ox.ac.uk · 16/09/2026

Congratulations to Alexandra Zimmermann, who has been awarded the Midori Prize for Biodiversity! The award recognises Alexandra’s role in advancing human-wildlife coexistence as a global policy priority for biodiversity conservation 👇

bit.ly

Dr Alexandra Zimmermann awarded Midori Prize for Biodiversity

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

Jenny shares what inspired her to become a scientist and why she believes working with local people is so important for conservation. Created by Gatsby Charitable Foundation, Imperial College and What on Earth! books to inspire young people to explore science careers. 2/2

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 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. 👉 youtube.com/watch?v=jyt8... 1/2 @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

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! 2/2 @oxfordgeography.bsky.social

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 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 👉 geog.ox.ac.uk/study/gradua... 1/2 @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The project is a collaboration between the University of Oxford, University of Cape Town and University College London. This research is being presented at The 19th European Conference on Computer Vision in Sweden this week. 4/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Adding reliable depth information would transform wildlife images from simple observations into richer sources of ecological data, enabling measurements of animal size that can provide insights into age and body condition, as well as facilitating estimates of population abundance. 3/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Current AI models still struggle to recover this depth information accurately in complex wildlife environments. By filling a critical data gap, WildDepth could facilitate the training and evaluation of more accurate AI models for wildlife depth perception. 2/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Images used to monitor wildlife often flatten a 3D scene into 2D, losing valuable distance and size information. WildDepth is one of the first synchronised image and LiDAR depth datasets featuring multiple animal species across domestic and wild settings. 👉 yunshin.github.io/WildDepth/ 1/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

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. 📸throughout: Department of Forests and Park Services (Royal Government of Bhutan) 6/6

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

*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. 5/6

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

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. 4/6

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

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. 3/6

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

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. 2/6

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Do tigers and leopards use Bhutan’s landscapes in the same way, and at the same spatial scales? doi.org/10.1016/j.bi... Bayesian* multi-scale spatial occupancy modelling examined tiger & leopard habitat use, compared ecological niches & assessed patterns of co-occurrence. 1/6 @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

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. 4/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

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. 3/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

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. 2/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Research from the high Himalayas of western Nepal reveals how Himalayan wolves adjust their activity in step with key prey across the seasons. Paper led by Antonio Sampedro and coauthored by WildCRU’s Geraldine Werhahn👉 doi.org/10.1016/j.ge... 1/4 @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Expanding genetic sampling across Bhutan is important for understanding population size, genetic diversity and connectivity, guiding conservation of this threatened carnivore. Paper led by Tashi Dhendup and coauthored by WildCRU’s Geraldine Werhahn👉 doi.org/10.1002/ece3... 2/2

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

The Himalayan wolf is an evolutionarily distinct wolf lineage adapted to the high elevations of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA from non-invasive wolf samples provides the first genetic confirmation of this wolf in Bhutan. 1/2 @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Did you know that African wild dogs have been observed sneezing? It is still debated whether this is a method for voting to go hunting (as one study suggests) or for clearing airways after hours resting on dusty ground. Just one behaviour making this species so interesting!

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

For World African Wild Dog Day, we are busting some of the biggest myths about this endangered canid. Scroll through to find out more about this iconic species. @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

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, sufficient resources, and consider impacts on wild species and people who depend on them. 3/3

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

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. Commentary led by Dan Challender and WildCRU’s Amy Hinsley 👉 doi.org/10.1038/s415... 2/3

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

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. 1/3

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

World Elephant Day 🐘 PhD researcher Jess Tacey is conducting fieldwork in Namibia, gathering data that will help scientists and conservationists to better understand elephant behaviour and human-elephant coexistence in the Kunene region. Follow Jess ('outsidewithjess' on Instagram) for updates.

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

On World Lion Day, we're busting some of the biggest myths about one of the world's most iconic big cats. Swipe through to test your knowledge and discover why protecting lions and their habitats is so important. @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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. 4/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Importantly, many critical wildlife dispersal areas lie outside protected areas, and no single species can represent the connectivity needs of all others. 3/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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. 2/4

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

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. 👉 nature.com/articles/s41... 1/4 @biology.ox.ac.uk

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

UPDATE: Thank you for the overwhelming interest and helpful responses to our survey, which is now closed. We anticipate opening applications for our new masters course in human-wildlife conflict in 2027. Please follow our accounts to stay tuned for future updates!

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

Research doesn't end with data collection or analysis. Publishing research strengthens the scientific record and enables others to build on existing knowledge. @diogoverissimo.bsky.social explains why publishing is a practical necessity & an ethical responsibility 👉 wildcru.org/news/why-do-...

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WildCRU, Oxford @wildcru.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

In Bhutan, we work with collaborators to understand how future development & restoration plans could affect tigers, helping ensure economic development & biodiversity conservation can go hand in hand. 📸Camera trap: tigers in Bhutan (Department of Forests and Park Services) 2/2

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