The Wildlife Conservation Research Unit

The planet’s human population increases by more than 200,000 people every day. At the same time, global consumption and inequality are rising. As a result, our planetary footprint is unsustainable, with ever more severe and intensifying pressure on finite natural resources throughout the world. The resulting environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change destroys nature and impacts human well-being. The mission of the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU) is to achieve practical solutions to conservation problems through original scientific research. Our research is used worldwide to advise environmental policy-makers. The need for our efforts is greater than ever.

Part of the University of Oxford’s Department of Biology, WildCRU is a pioneering, inter-disciplinary research unit in a world-class academic centre. We underpin solutions to conservation problems through primary scientific research of the highest calibre. Our approach is empirical, interdisciplinary and collaborative, seeking to include all four elements of our “Conservation Quartet” research to understand and address the problem; education to explain it; community involvement to ensure participation and acceptance; and implementation of long-term solutions.


Video narrated by Prof David Macdonald. Created by, and used with the kind permission of United for Wildlife: www.unitedforwildlife.org/

News

Food for thought – insight into the environmental benefits (and more) of being vegan

November 28, 2023

Faced with the frequent questions, “You’re vegan? Why don’t you eat meat and dairy?”, Dr Jan Kamler flips it around and asks, “Why DO you ... Read full story

New research reveals carnivore range extension in Ethiopia’s Somali region

November 21, 2023

Little has been documented about large carnivore distribution in Ethiopia to date. A new study led by Fedlu Abdella with WildCRU co-authors Hans Bauer and ... Read full story

Mitigating Human Impacts on Wild Animal Welfare

November 13, 2023

The relationship between wild animal welfare and biodiversity conservation is complex. WildCRU has been engaged with diverse issues around human impacts on animal welfare since the early 1970s. ... Read full story

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