Cuvier’s gazelle (Gazella cuvieri) was reintroduced in Tergou reserve (TR) in 2018–2019 to help restore its population at the Moroccan Central Plateau. A study on browsing trees and shrubs was conducted in this reserve to identify (i) the seasonal pattern of this activity and (ii) the most solicited tree and shrub species. Here, we used six random 500-m transects to collect, each month and at each

Dispersal from one population to another is crucial for meta-population stability and survival. Long-distance dispersal events have been widely documented in male tigers (Panthera tigris), but similar events in female tigers are less known. We opportunistically recorded a long-distance dispersal event that ended with the establishment of a new home-range for a radio-collared sub-adult female tiger

Human-wildlife problems often arise when predators kill livestock. This can develop into serious conflicts between traditional pastoralists and other stakeholders, such as government officials and conservationists. In the Yamal Peninsula (Russia), nearly half of the indigenous Nenets people are reindeer herders. They have recently faced many challenges, such as high mortality of reindeer from pasture

Human expansion can cause disturbance and intrusion of invasive species, which are detrimental to small carnivores. We investigated how European wildcats responded to disturbance from mushroom collectors, cattle and feral pigs in Sicily, Italy. We used detections from 76 cameras over 2 surveys (2015–2016 and 2018; camera days = 1985) to run occupancy and co-occurrence models and estimate overlap in

Wing surveys are an important tool for understanding harvest and can provide information on productivity and survival which can complement traditional methods (such as ringing). However, storing and collecting wings at a national level is challenging and costly and limits hunter participation in such schemes. Digital photographs of wings offer an alternative method of capturing this data from hunting

Wetlands such as the World Heritage Site in the Wadden Sea include important habitats for breeding waterbirds. Its saltmarshes and adjacent conservation polders are used by thousands of breeding birds. However, some alarming population declines have been recorded during recent decades and previous studies found indications that predation pressure from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and more recently from

Baseline data on intrinsic–extrinsic determinants of spatial distribution of flagship species helps wildlife managers develop their management strategies. Globally, large herbivores are in range contraction due to the expansion of human habitation. Of late, alien invasion is raising management concerns due to its detrimental effect on native biota. This study evaluating the determinants of spatial

This study evaluated the trend and spatial distribution of wild boar population harvested in the Alpine hunting district C.A. CN1 (Piedmont, Italy) from 1996 to 2018, and its relation with hunting effort. Protected areas were found to shape the distribution of the harvested wild boars, which decreased in number as the distance from those zones increased. The hunting bag data presented large yearly

Reproducing conspecific vocalization has been widely used to detect owls in the field due to the nocturnal habits and cryptic nature of most of them. Surveying and monitoring owl populations using playback and other methods are important given the key roles these birds play in the environment and the ecosystem services they provide, especially Neotropical owls that are still poorly understood. We described

Biological invasions are widely recognised as a significant threat to biodiversity, a driver of global change and a relevant economic problem. Actions to control or eradicate invasive alien species (IAS) can cause great controversy, especially when targeted species are charismatic. Thus, better understanding people’s perceptions of invasive species is key for ensuring more effective IAS management

Dispersal is a key process affecting the dynamic and genetic structure of populations. To increase our knowledge on first-year dispersal in the white-tailed eagle (WTE), 35 nestlings in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria were equipped with GPS/GSM loggers while on the nest between 2016 and 2019. Twenty-nine individuals surviving until March 31 were used to assess post-fledging areas, first-year

The relevance of wild hosts in the maintenance and transmission of animal tuberculosis may increase as the prevalence in livestock decreases. However, studies on wild mammals in low bovine tuberculosis prevalence scenarios are scarce. The Basque Country is an understudied region from the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula with low bovine tuberculosis prevalence. In this 10-year survey, we searched for Mycobacterium

Human-predator conflicts are frequently caused by livestock and/or game depredation. The golden jackal’s (Canis aureus) range expansion in Europe, as well as the recent re-expansion of several gray wolf (Canis lupus) populations, might increase risk of such conflicts. In Austria, golden jackal presence has been increasing since the 1990s including reports of wildlife and livestock kills, frequently

Thousands of marine animals are injured and killed each year across Europe. Wildlife rehabilitation centres play an important role to rehabilitate sick and injured animals and return them to the wild. This study aims to assess seabird rehabilitation outcomes and causes of mortality of stranded seabirds in the central Portuguese coast. During a 7-year period (2010–2016) a total of 2042 admissions were

A great number of farmland wildlife species has shown a sharp population decline in European countries, mainly caused by changes in agricultural practices leading to habitat alterations. Within this scenario, the identification of agricultural practices providing economic benefits to farmers and, at the same time, favoring higher biodiversity levels is a key challenge. This is especially interesting

Habitat use studies provide invaluable information for the conservation of species that suffer from habitat loss or degradation. We used satellite telemetry to study the habitat use of white-tailed eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla) in relation to six habitat classes (artificial surfaces, agricultural areas, forests, semi-natural areas, wetlands and waterbodies) and five forest age classes (0–9, 10–19,

Ethnoornithology is a multidisciplinary field of study that focuses on human-bird relationships and humans’ knowledge of the Earth’s avifauna. Falconry (the use of trained birds of prey—usually eagles, falcons, and hawks—to hunt wild animals) is one type of human-bird relationship, with its origins obscured in poorly understood prehistoric times. We hypothesized that falconry would have been memorable

Wild ungulates seek out food resources at the bottom of mountain valleys in winter and spring, where their high density can negatively impact the production of hay meadows. This study determines the factors that explain the meadow use of four sympatric species: red-, roe-, and fallow-deer, and wild boar. In 2017, we counted the individuals of each species in 94 meadows for eight nights, between March

Invasive non-native (alien) species (INNS) are one of the greatest environmental threats globally and they pose a serious and growing risk to our environment, economy and, for some species, human health. Humans have been moving species around for millennia but this movement has been increasing steadily since the start of the industrial revolution and this growth continues—fuelled by increasing trade

Reeves’ muntjac, either deliberately released or escaped from collections, was present in a few areas of southern England in low numbers by the 1960s and was generally regarded as a benign introduction. As their numbers and distribution increased their impact on amenity woodland, forest plantations, ground flora and their potential competition with native herbivores became apparent. Their reproductive

The appropriate response for controlling an invasive non-native species depends on the extent to which its invasion has progressed, which can be revealed by information on its distribution and abundance. Reeves’ muntjac is a native deer to China and Taiwan, but has been introduced and become well-established in Great Britain. Moreover, in recent years, reports and verified records in the wild from

Populations of Reeves’ muntjac (Muntiacus reevesi) have become well established in central, southern and eastern England as a result of introduction and colonisation. Although it is widely acknowledged as a species capable of damaging conservation woodland, information on its impacts has often been difficult to unravel because of the presence of other species of deer. In the county of Cambridgeshire

Reproductive variables constitute a key information to assess population dynamics and inform wildlife management. We estimated wolf (Canis lupus) litter size and reproductive phenology in Spain between 1987 and 2015 based on foetus or placental scar counts on 75 females. Three out of twenty-five subadults (12%) and 32 out of 41 adults (78%) were classified as reproductive females. The mean litter size

Recent studies have shown that an increase in the population size of sika deer (Cervus nippon) decreases the abundance of rodents but increases that of several invertebrates (Scarabaeidae, Rhaphidophoridae, and earthworms) outside a deep-proof fence in Oku-Nikko, Japan. Therefore, the diet of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) feeding on these animals is expected to vary according to changes in prey abundance

Nineteen red deer areas in a densely populated region with a huge network of fenced motorways and the division into administrative management units (AMUs) with restricted ecological connectivity were investigated. In the season 2018/2019, a total of 1291 red deer samples (on average 68 per area) were collected and genotyped using 16 microsatellite markers. The results show a clear genetic differentiation

The public is occasionally concerned about the detrimental impact of wildlife research activities, particularly capture procedures such as the use of chemical immobilization. One of the risks inherent with chemical immobilization is aggression (or predation) to immobilized animals by conspecifics; yet, data on such occurrences are rarely reported in the literature. We chemically immobilized 25 dominant

Some deer species are of conservation concern; others are officially managed as a food source or for their trophies, whereas in many regions, deer are regarded as overabundant or even as a nuisance causing damages. Regardless of local management issues, in most cases, reliable data on deer population sizes and sex ratios are lacking. Non-invasive genetic approaches are promising tools for the estimation

Anthropogenic land-use change, such as commercial afforestation, is a significant driver of shifts in ecological communities and species abundance. In this study, the consequences of afforestation of upland habitats for two distinct animal groups, birds and small mammals, were examined by comparing open moorland, early pre-thicket conifer forests (2–4 years post-replanting) and late pre-thicket conifer

Conflicts have emerged due to range expansions of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) across Europe, characterized by their international conservation status and perceived impacts on livestock and native prey species. Most countries in Central Europe do not yet include the golden jackal in their national list of occurring, native species. Nevertheless, legal obligations arise as soon as golden jackals

The roe deer is a monoestrous species with a very short rutting season. The present work reports the most suitable period for collecting epididymal sperm and describes the effect of two cooling rates on the post-thaw quality of sperm. Testes were collected 24–48 h after death. Samples of sperm flushed from the epididymis were subjected to either (1) dilution in a Tris-citric acid-glucose-egg yolk-based

The methods used to assess the significance of land cover in the vicinity of a road for the mortality of mesopredators are diverse. In assessing the effect of land cover along the road on road causalities, scientists use various buffer sizes, or even no buffer along the road. The aim of this study was to verify how results of land cover effects on the mortality of mesopredators on roads may differ

Translocation of game species is a widespread tool for hunting and conservation, but for some species there is a lack of information, being this the case for the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis). We studied the survival and spatial behaviour of 12 wild Iberian hares translocated in Northwestern Spain, in a hunting ground with a combination of arable land, vineyards and other habitats where game management

National species checklists are important for a variety of reasons, including biodiversity conservation. However, these national checklists are rarely complete, and it is not easy to gauge how many species have been overlooked or what the taxonomic identities of overlooked species would be. This is particularly the case for small, elusive, or nocturnal species such as bats. Despite their diversity

A total of 33,206 wild boars (Sus scrofa) hunted throughout the province of Girona (northeastern Spain) were submitted to a game processing plant during four hunting seasons (2014–2015 to 2017–2018). This province is divided into seven districts with different habitat types for wild boar populations. Muscle samples from each wild boar were tested for Trichinella spp. infection by artificial digestion

More than three million farmed mallards are released annually for hunting purposes in Europe. The ecological impact of these releases depends on how many birds survive to join the wild breeding population. We estimated annual survival in farmed-released and wild-caught Swedish mallards, using mark-recapture data. In 2011–2018, we ringed 13,533 farmed ducklings before release (26.5% recovered). Most

Sexually selected infanticides (SSI) committed by male bears during the mating season has attracted a great research attention, although this type of behavior has been rarely observed in the wild. Here, we document a bear infanticide attempt in the Cantabrian Mountains in which the male killed the adult female during the fight and, subsequently, consumed the carcass for several days. Interestingly

The wild boar (Sus scrofa) is becoming more common in Europe and has potential to be used as sentinel species for local contamination of heavy metals. Concentrations of nine trace elements (arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn)) were examined in kidney tissue of 104 female wild boars hunted at three sites in Sweden

Cities are not often considered priority areas for threatened mammals; however, recent research suggests that urban areas may be important for water vole (Arvicola amphibius) conservation. To establish the potential importance of cities in supporting water vole populations, we used National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Atlas data to examine the occurrence of water voles within the United Kingdom (UK)

Felids and canids coexist along their ranges worldwide. Various interactions can occur between these carnivores, with multiple consequences such as demographic changes of competitors, or behavioural modifications in the use of the spatial, temporal or trophic niches. European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) coexist across Europe using multi-use landscapes when hunting

Recently confirmed expansion of golden jackals (Canis aureus) into countries without any previous records poses questions, one of them focusing on the species potential and possibly varying habitat use. In this study, we investigated the presence and distribution of golden jackals in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, where knowledge about golden jackal distribution and habitat use is still scarce. We

Due to the ecological changes and imbalance in their natural habitat, capybaras have been found in both urban and rural areas in Brazil, which may favor the transmission of pathogens with zoonotic potential. Furthermore, in the northeastern region, there are no studies about the pathogens of free-ranging capybaras. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the role of capybaras as bioindicators

Small mammals, such as small rodents (Rodentia: Muroidea) and shrews (Insectivora: Soricidae), present particular challenges in camera trap surveys. Their size is often insufficient to trigger infra-red sensors, whilst resultant images may be of inadequate quality for species identification. The conventional survey method for small mammals, live-trapping, can be both labour-intensive and detrimental

In species with explosive breeding strategies, large numbers of individuals may congregate at a defined location for a very short period of time. Effective synchronisation in arrival at breeding sites is crucial to ensure mating success. Amphibians with explosive breeding strategies often congregate at ponds for only a few days or weeks a year. Previous research has shown that frogs and toads may use

The striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is one of the largest carnivores within forest and grassland ecosystems across Africa and Asia and is currently threatened throughout its range. In this short report, we studied hyena presence between 1995 and 2018 in Nepal, via literature and field questionnaire surveys. Our results indicate that hyena distribution has significantly decreased in recent years, especially

The provision of predictable anthropogenic food subsidies (PAFS) to urban wildlife has been recognized as an important trophic input in urban ecosystems. However, there is a lack of agreement about the benefits and harms of urban PAFS for avian species. While there are many studies about the impact of PAFS on birds, little information is available about the potential importance of PAFS on the ecology

European badgers’ behaviors have been studied over a 6-year period (2013–2018) using camera traps settled in a main sett (400 m2; 17 holes) in an oak forest, northeastern France. I analyzed group’s size, grooming, digging, bedding collecting, mating, and the emergence and return times. The burrow was inhabited by 2.8 (± 1.2) badgers. I observed between 2 and 4 new cubs each year in 5 out of 6 years

Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV) are vector-borne orbiviruses affecting ranched and wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in North America. Currently, limited data exist on EHDV and BTV transmission dynamics in ranched and wild herds. To identify long-term site-specific EHDV and BTV intervention strategies (e.g., integrated pest or animal husbandry management)

The eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is a North American tree squirrel species which has been introduced to several countries outside its native range. We made use of squirrels culled in Italy within control activities to establish hematological reference intervals for this invasive species, with the aim to broaden the current knowledge about its physiology. Blood from 104 individuals was

Fish stocking is commonly used to enhance recreational fisheries; however, the side effects of stocking at the ecosystem scale have rarely been tested. Avian predators, because of their high position in food webs, can serve as indicators of environmental change, including prey-species abundance. The scope of this study was to understand whether recent changes in northern pike (Esox lucius) stocking

Gray wolf (Canis lupus) populations are expanding across Europe, which leads to an increase in their interactions with people and domestic animals, including dogs. Attacks on hunting dogs are becoming a major cause for conflicts between wolves and hunters in many countries, including Croatia, where this conflict has increased dramatically in recent years. To better understand the conflict and possible

It was thought by the author of the present study that if both automatic cameras and LARS were used, instead of one or the other, then it would be possible to efficiently gain knowledge that could be applied in the strategic management of deer in wetlands. In the Mizorogaike wetland, deer (Cervus nippon) graze plants throughout its entire area. Aerial images taken in the winter were used in the deer

The use of non-invasively collected DNA source material for genetic and genomic applications is usually characterized by low target DNA concentration and quality, genotyping errors and cost-intensive lab procedures. However, for otters (Lutrinae) as elusive species of conservation concern, genetic non-invasive sampling has become an important tool to study their ecology and demography. To increase

Near-natural or semi-natural forests such as relatively undisturbed and old deciduous or mixed woodland are considered worth protecting and ecologically valuable habitats for bat conservation. In contrast, mono-specific forest plantations are considered ecologically less valuable; thus, decision-makers recommend these plantations as suitable locations for wind power stations and therefore want to further

Hematological and serum biochemical reference values for 33 free-ranging sambar deer following immobilization with medetomidine (70–100 μgkg−1) and ketamine (1–2 mgkg−1) in Sariska Tiger Reserve in India were established and the differences across sex and age group were compared. Hematological and biochemical variables across different age-classes for red blood cell count, eosinophils, mean corpuscular

The European beaver (Castor fiber) has extended its range into most Central European countries over the past 30 years, resulting in increased forestry damage and water management issues. As the number of beavers increases populations become established in new types of habitat. In the Czech Republic, for example, established beaver populations are now found on rivers flowing through agricultural landscapes

Growing global evidence demonstrates that not only the invasion of alien species has imposed serious threats to native biodiversity, but it also threatens health and economics. The raccoon (Procyon lotor), medium-sized mammal, native to North America, as a result of escapes or deliberate introductions in the mid-twentieth century, is now distributed across much of mainland Europe and the Caucasus and

Identifying the most appropriate bait for a camera trap study is an important step in sampling design, as some baits may perform better than others in attracting different animal species. In this study, we compare the vertebrate communities detected using five different widely used baits (i.e., fruit, sardines, valerian extract, a mix of sweet fruits and peanut butter, and a combination of valerian

In Indonesia, the songbird trade is causing serious declines in many native species. Much of this trade is unregulated or illegal but nevertheless occurs openly in physical wildlife markets and online. Here, we report on the trade in a once common songbird, the Sunda laughingthrush (Garrulax palliatus), using compiled market data from 365 bird market surveys across a 30-year period. We found a total

Feeding of wild Asian elephants at the Udawalawe National Park perimeter electric fence by the general public is longstanding. We monitored the elephants and feeding activities, and conducted questionnaire surveys of stakeholders. Over 50 individual adult male elephants engaged in the activity. The exclusive male presence was consistent with a high-risk high-gain male strategy. The elephants were mostly

Domestic goats represent an important resource for rural human communities in tropical dry regions of Latin America. Management of this species in extensive systems is a common practice in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve (TCBR) in Mexico. We analyzed the spatial and temporal variation of movements associated with the foraging behavior of goats in the TCBR. In order to determine the foraging