Wildlife Conservation Research Unit

02/09/2026

Do tigers and leopards use Bhutan’s landscapes in the same way, and at the same spatial scales?

A new study draws on 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 (Royal Government of Bhutan).

Using Bayesian* multi-scale spatial occupancy modelling, the study examined habitat use by tigers and leopards, compared their ecological niches, and assessed patterns of co-occurrence between the two species.

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.

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. 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.

Read the paper, lead by PhD researcher Singye Wangmo 👉 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2026.112050

📸 Department of Forests and Park Services (Royal Government of Bhutan)



*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.

31/08/2026

New research from the high Himalayas of western Nepal reveals how Himalayan wolves adjust their activity in step with key prey across the seasons.

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.

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.

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.

Read the paper led by Antonio Sampedro and coauthored by WildCRU’s Geraldine Werhahn 👉 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04362

28/08/2026

The Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) is an evolutionarily distinct wolf lineage adapted to the high elevations of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau.

Using non-invasive samples collected during Bhutan’s nationwide snow leopard survey, researchers analysed mitochondrial DNA from what were confirmed to be 13 wolf samples. All sequences clustered within the Himalayan wolf lineage, providing the first genetic confirmation of this distinctive wolf in Bhutan.

Expanding genetic sampling across Bhutan will now be important for understanding population size, genetic diversity and connectivity, guiding conservation of this threatened High Asian carnivore.

Read the paper led by Tashi Dhendup and coauthored by WildCRU’s Geraldine Werhahn 👉 https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.74201

28/08/2026

26/08/2026

For World African Wild Dog Day, we are busting some of the biggest myths about this endangered canid.

Did you know that African wild dogs have been observed sneezing? Whether this is a method for voting to go hunting (as one study suggests) or for clearing airways after many hours resting on dusty ground is still up for debate.

This is just one of the many behaviours that makes African wild dogs such an interesting species to study!

Swipe through to find out more about this iconic species.

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.

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.

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, be sufficiently resourced, and give careful consideration to impacts on both wild species and the people who depend on them.

Read the commentary led by Dan Challender and WildCRU’s Amy Hinsley 👉 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-026-03161-8

12/08/2026

Happy World Elephant Day 🐘

PhD researcher Jess Tacey is currently 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.

10/08/2026

For World Lion Day, we are busting some of the biggest myths about one of the world's most iconic big cats.

From who really does the hunting to the greatest threats they face today, the truth might surprise you.

Swipe through to test your knowledge and discover why protecting lions and their habitats is so important.

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.

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.

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

Read the paper led by Lara Sousa and Robynne Kotze 👉 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-58440-y

30/07/2026

Research does not end with data collection or analysis - it becomes most valuable when it is documented, published, and shared. Publishing research strengthens the scientific record and enables others to build on existing knowledge.

Diogo Veríssimo explains why publishing is both a practical necessity and an ethical responsibility for researchers in a new WildCRU blog.

Read here 👉 https://www.wildcru.org/news/why-do-researchers-publish-papers/

📸 Dylan Feldmeier