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 Zoology, 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

WildCRU Alumna Isla Duporge tracks the largest migration on the planet from satellite using deep learning

June 5, 2023

The Great Wildebeest Migration is the most extensive land-based mammal migration known to our planet, playing a pivotal role in driving numerous ecological processes that sustain the well-being ... Read full story

The world’s first kiss? WildCRU research published in Science

May 19, 2023

Animal behaviour is a central theme of the research done at WildCRU. The majority with the focus on behavioural ecology in relation to the conservation of wildlife. However, contributing ... Read full story

In a turning point for lion conservation, WildCRU and Panthera unite lion programs with the appointment of Prof. Andrew Loveridge as a joint Lion Director

May 18, 2023

Uniting two of the world’s preeminent lion programs, Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization, has appointed our Deputy Director, Andrew Loveridge, in a joint role as ... Read full story

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