New study improves understanding of Amazonia’s ocelot population

June 1, 2016

Though the Amazonia is considered to be the ocelot’s (Leopardus pardalis) major stronghold, there is no previous ocelot density estimates for any site in this area. WildCRU’s Cedric Tan and Diploma alumnus Daniel Rocha, along with other international researchers, published a new study in PLoS One using camera trap data from three consecutive ... Read full story

Cecil and the Trans Kalahari Predator Project

May 13, 2016

The idiom has it that as time passes water flows under the bridge: David Macdonald observes that as we approach the anniversary of Cecil’s death that proverbial water has been a torrent, but amongst the turbulence of debate and the swell of concern for lion conservation there is good news from Hwange: Cecil’s three lionesses ... Read full story

International trap testing guidelines in need of review

May 11, 2016

Around the world, animals considered pests are often killed or captured using traps. In 1999, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) produced guidelines for the testing of killing and restraining traps, and these guidelines are used as the basis for approving traps worldwide. However, our recent evaluation has demonstrated that the guidelines for testing trap ... Read full story

David Macdonald reports on a remarkable story of teamwork, and illustrates how modern conservation work goes far beyond biology

May 24, 2016

At WildCRU we are fond of saying that, for modern conservation, biology is necessary but not sufficient – conservation goes beyond the natural sciences, to the social sciences, through economics, development, governance and the law all the way from evidence to judgment and thus politics. An important element is education, and we have been busy ... Read full story

Ruaha Carnivore Project loses lion to poisoning

May 11, 2016

Unfortunately, the WildCRU team at our Ruaha Carnivore Project recently discovered a very significant poisoning event in one of the local villages, following an attack by lions on some cattle. One cow was killed, and the carcass was poisoned and left out in the bush. Project staff heard about the incident and went to investigate, ... Read full story

Global status of leopard

May 5, 2016

The common leopard is the world’s most abundant and widespread large cat, but also most persecuted one. Recently, an international group of scientists, including WildCRU's DPhil student Susana Rostro-Garcia and WildCRU visitor Dr Jan Kamler, joined together to assess global status of the leopards across more than 80 countries in Africa and Asia. Their aim ... Read full story