Below is a list of WildCRU projects that have been or are being funded by the Darwin Initiative

The rarest South American felid, the Andean cat is the top predator in a specialist high altitude vertebrate community in the Central Andes. Most recent sightings have occurred around the triple frontier of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, a relatively undisturbed region. We aim to achieve biodiversity conservation by promoting collaboration across national boundaries, using the Andean cat as a flagship species. We seek to improve the efficiency of existing protected areas in securing long-term conservation of the Puna vertebrate biodiversity, and to encourage more tolerance for wildlife outside them. The focus of our work will be to gather high quality data on vertebrate distribution, identify areas of key conservation value, train stakeholders, strengthen conservation networks, deliver community education to reduce pressure upon the Puna’s fauna, and establish a mechanism for monitoring cat presence and prey availability.

The three-year project aims to protect vertebrate biodiversity in the Andean-Patagonian region of Argentina. This work will involve evaluating the impact of invasive American Mink on local biodiversity, using the endangered Southern River Otter, or huillin, as a flagship species. The ultimate goal is to design, and implement, plans to reduce this impact. The study will involve close collaboration with the University of Buenos Aires and the Administración de Parques Nacionales (the Argentine Government's National Parks authority).

This project follows up an original project on 'Big Cat conservation and sustainable use on southern Africa' (see below). The follow up project will include further monitoring of big cat populations to see how they recover from reduced hunting, and will explore and highlight the value of tourism as an alternative source of revenue to hunting.
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[Hwange Lion Research web site]

Several dozen species endemic to the Galapagos are threatened with extinction, as a result of climate change, introduced predators and fisheries activity. The aim of this project is to seek ways of mitigating the impact of these factors on three Galapagos bird species; the Galapagos penguin, the Flightless cormorant and the Mangrove finch; each is listed as threatened by the IUCN and Birdlife International.
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One of the greatest conservation challenges facing us today is the rapid decline of wild populations of those animals hunted for food in Central and West Africa. The trade in such 'bushmeat' is estimated to represent an even greater threat to the survival of wild animal species than does deforestation. We are researching the current bushmeat trade in the biodiversity rich area between Nigeria and Cameroon.
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This project demonstrated the detrimental impact of hunting on big cat populations and helped to implement a 50% reduction in the hunting quota. In addition, the project held workshops bringing together experts in big cat conservation; and trained national parks staff in field and research skills. The conservation message was portrayed to the local community through a theatre and dance group, an initiative which was enormously successful.

Loveridge, A.J., Lynam, T. and Macdonald, D.W. 2001. Lion Conservation Research - Workshop 1:Survey Techniques

Loveridge, A.J., Lynam, T. and Macdonald, D.W. 2002. Lion Conservation Research - Workshop 2: Modelling Conflict

[Hwange Lion Research web site]

This project established a management plan for the survival of European mink on Hiumaa Island, Estonia. American mink were successfully eradicated from the sanctuary island and captive bred European mink introduced from the centre at Tallinn Zoo. Following the success of the Hiiumaa releases we have been awarded an EU Life grant to repeat the exercise on the neighbouring, but much larger, island of Saaremaa.

This project established which mechanisms affect the diversity of semi-aquatic carnivore communities inhabiting rivers and lakes in continental Europe, in particular the reasons for the decline of European mink (Mustela lutreola).