Wilder in the News

Recently, members of our team at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo had a conversation with a content writer from Twinkl. Twinkl has been providing educators worldwide with high-quality teaching and learning resources for over a decade. This Q&A blog post aims to offer insights for animal lovers and anyone curious about careers in animal care and conservation. Explore the world of wildlife conservation through this engaging Q&A with experts from The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo. 

The recent sighting of a banded bird by a wildlife biologist in his field office sparked an extraordinary instance of inter-agency collaboration. Upon investigation, researchers determined that the owl had been banded in 2022, by Conservation & Science team members working for the Wilder Institute in Alberta. The distance between the burrow in Montana where the blue-banded adult female was most-recently sighted is about 185 miles (as the owl flies) from its natal burrow where it was banded.

Canadian Geographic: When the only habitat left is in isolated patches, plants might need a little help spreading their seeds -  but concerns about ecological integrity are holding us back. Delve into the extensive collaborative efforts between the Wilder Institute and key partners across Ontario aimed at the reintroduction of threatened plant species. This multifaceted initiative not only aims at the revival of endangered flora but also underscores the practical application of conservation research.

Our President & CEO, Dr. Clément Lanthier, travelled to Kenya to celebrate a decade of collaboration through the Kenya Mountain Bongo Partnership! This partnership is finding win-win solutions for wildlife and people while supporting the recovery of the Critically Endangered mountain bongo. Here’s to the power of collaboration in championing the conservation of this iconic species!

EurkaAlert!: A new study, published in Conservation Letters, assessed the conservation ROI of field stations and explored the impact of COVID-19. The findings revealed that dwindling funding threatens the ability of field research stations to continue to carry out vital conservation efforts. “Conservation funding is limited, but solutions are within reach!”, said Dr. Gráinne McCabe, our Chief Conservation Officer, who is among the 170+ authors contributing to this study.

The annual Biodiversity Conservation Horizon Scan is a forward-looking initiative which regularly identifies the most critical conservation issues to watch out for on the future of our planet. Published this past December in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, the 2024 scan, led by Professor Bill Sutherland at Cambridge University, highlights 15 pressing emerging issues resulting from intertwined climate and biodiversity impacts and advancing technologies with incredible potential for conservation. One of our very own, Nafeesa Esmail, Conservation Research and Strategy Advisor, played a pivotal role as a co-author in this proactive research. Her insights shed light on forward-looking conservation strategies for a brighter future.