Enabling coexistence between humans and wild carnivores

Impact

The data used to identify the brown hyena, cheetah, and leopard as either vulnerable to or near-threatened with extinction on the Red List relies on multiple citations from projects led by the University of Brighton as evidence. These species are now recognised as a global conservation concern.

In North West Province, in response to findings on the territorial behaviour of black-backed jackal, Mankwe Wildlife Reserve ceased their practice of culling the animal, thereby enabling jackal numbers to increase with no negative effects on the reserve.

In the UK, the research has altered practice on the use of temporary captivity in rehabilitation centres as the default management action for sick or injured wildlife. The RSPCA, for example, have used evidence from the research to confirm that their protocol of treating and releasing the hundreds of hedgehogs admitted each winter had no detrimental effect on animal survival.

The data collected on red foxes have been used by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to update contingency plans for the emergence of serious zoonotic diseases.