A new study from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has developed a less invasive method to measure the body temperature of hatchling Mojave desert tortoises, reducing disturbance and handling stress. The handheld infrared thermal camera provides a reliable estimate of internal body temperature under various conditions.
A team of wildlife health experts and surgeons from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and UC San Diego Health performed a groundbreaking mastoidectomy on Mizani, a 12-year-old western lowland gorilla. The procedure successfully treated an infection that had spread into portions of his skull, allowing him to make a full recovery.
The partnership aims to leverage SDSU's technology transfer expertise to commercialize innovations from San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance's research, conservation, and wildlife care initiatives. This collaboration will help translate scientific breakthroughs into real-world solutions for society and wildlife populations.
The Laboratory in Northern Kenya (LiNK) improves conservation-led veterinary medicine by providing accessible diagnostic infrastructure. The lab, established through a collaborative partnership, serves the northern Kenya landscape and enhances the country's national wildlife health infrastructure.
Research conducted by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Save the Elephants found that elephants' gut microbiomes shifted significantly when sharing habitat with livestock. Microbes commonly found in livestock became more abundant, while beneficial microbes decreased.
The partnership aims to boost conservation impact by harnessing advanced digital technology and biobanking techniques, focusing on three core areas: knowledge transfer, innovation, and student engagement. This collaboration seeks to address pressing environmental challenges such as biodiversity threats and emerging pathogens.
A new study reveals that protecting polar bear habitat naturally safeguards the resources they rely on to survive, providing critical benefits to the ecosystem. By analyzing tracking data from 355 bears, researchers identified a high-use area near Cape Churchill, Manitoba, highlighting it as a prime location for a Marine Protected Area.
The partnership aims to support conservation genetics efforts globally by sequencing up to 4,000 unique animal samples across 1,300 species. The project will provide valuable genomic insights to inform conservation management decisions and promote ecological resilience.
A new study reveals that polar bears act as crucial providers for Arctic species, leaving behind millions of kilograms of prey annually. This carrion provides a vital energy source for a wide network of arctic scavenger species, including Arctic foxes and ravens.
Recent studies using portable nanopore sequencing technologies document and sequence Amazonian wildlife, increasing representation of Peruvian species in global genetic libraries. This initiative empowers conservationists to generate their own data, making informed decisions to combat species extinction.
A new study shows that mixing mice from different populations can create genetically healthier populations, increasing survival and reproductive success. The research challenges common perceptions about the risks of outbreeding depression, highlighting the benefits of genetic rescue in conservation programs.
A new genomic study offers a unique lens for understanding the extinction crisis in Hawai'i, revealing that there is still time to save the critically endangered honeycreeper 'akeke'e. With only 17 species of iconic honeycreepers remaining, efforts to control mosquito populations and conservation breeding programs are underway.
A new scientific study sheds light on the social dynamics driving demand for bear bile in Vietnam, highlighting the role of gift-giving among close social networks. The findings suggest that targeting key individuals within influential groups could reduce demand and support conservation efforts.
A new study published in Environmental Pollution found that plastic ingested by northern fulmars can leak chemicals that interfere with the birds' hormone systems. The chemicals, such as BPA and phthalates, can impair fertility, development, and behavior, posing a significant threat to species survival.
A new study reveals that many Vietnamese orchid collectors are unaware of the dire status of endangered species and the harm caused by over-harvesting. The researchers suggest targeted awareness campaigns and collaborations can transform these collectors into key conservation allies.
Researchers at San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance have made a groundbreaking discovery that establishes individual baseline values for African elephant blood cell counts, enabling earlier detection and intervention of clinical EEHV infection. This study provides a tool for elephant care facilities to improve preventive medicine and lifesa...
A new study by 173 conservation scientists found that field research stations have a substantial impact on habitat quality, reducing deforestation and hunting rates. The stations also support local economies and generate significant scientific output, informing conservation policies.
Researchers tracked endangered thick-billed parrots using solar-powered satellite transmitters, revealing new critical habitat and migratory routes. Less than 20% of the newly identified habitat is protected from timber industry, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.
A new study has found a much smaller range of suitable habitat for the grey-necked rockfowl, a critically endangered African bird species, in Central Africa. The research suggests that changing the species' IUCN conservation status to Vulnerable could help prevent further land use damage.
A new study reveals that analyzing DNA can help predict which animals are most at risk of extinction. By examining the genomes of 240 mammal species, scientists found that those with smaller historical populations carry higher burdens of damaging mutations and are more likely to face extinction.
A large-scale study of 47 primate species across three continents found that climate change and deforestation are driving these animals to spend more time on the ground. The study suggests that primates with certain traits, such as a generalized diet or living in larger groups, may be more likely to adapt to this new lifestyle.
A study published in PNAS reveals that about 15.4% of rhinos in Kruger National Park have been infected with M. bovis, the pathogen causing bovine tuberculosis. The finding highlights the need for a one health approach to support global conservation efforts and prevent potential spread to human health.
A new study led by Russ Van Horn finds that steep terrain and rugged spots are crucial for female Andean bears to choose suitable dens for their cubs. The research may aid conservation efforts by providing critical information on managing human activities near bear habitats.
Researchers at San Diego Zoo Global have successfully generated induced pluripotent stem cells from frozen fibroblast cell lines of northern and southern white rhinoceroses. This groundbreaking achievement marks the first step towards potentially bringing back this critically endangered species through gamete creation.
The San Diego Zoo Global biobanking project sequenced 131 new placental mammal genomes, bringing the worldwide total to over 250. This project catalogs and characterizes whole branches of Earth's biodiversity spanning 110 million years of mammal evolution.
Researchers recommend a decentralized disease surveillance system to monitor pathogens in wildlife and humans, expanding beyond human disease outbreaks to encompass broader understanding of pathogens. The network aims to provide early warnings of spillover potential and assist in containment and development of therapeutic treatments.
A new study found widespread use of products made from vulnerable species like sun bears, Asiatic bears, and serows in northern Laos. The demand for these products poses a significant threat to their populations, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to reduce unsustainable harvests.
A study found that pregnant women and new mothers in Cambodia use bear products to treat pregnancy and post-partum related ailments. This practice poses a significant threat to bear populations, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to reduce demand pressures.
A recent literature review in Biological Reviews reveals significant knowledge gaps about crocodilians' ecological role, emphasizing the need for future research on population dynamics, feeding and nutrition, and decline impact. The study also highlights San Diego Zoo Global's conservation efforts for crocodilians.
A new study provides valuable insights into the importance of reducing genetic load in conservation breeding programs, particularly for endangered species like the Pacific pocket mouse. The research suggests that introducing genes from healthier populations can increase fitness and prevent inbreeding.
Polar bears in the Southern Beaufort Sea are abandoning their traditional summer habitats due to shrinking sea ice. As a result, they must expend more energy to find food and access whale carcasses, potentially contributing to population declines.
A recent study highlights the urgent need for reforestation and conservation efforts to protect Madagascar's unique lemur species, with over 95% threatened with extinction. Habitat fragmentation has been found to negatively impact lemur populations, particularly folivores, emphasizing the importance of on-the-ground conservation action.
Researchers found that elephants display a generalized interest in their dead, with common behaviors including touching, approaching, and investigating carcasses. This suggests that elephants may be experiencing some form of emotional response to death, potentially related to grief or memory.
A study published in Global Ecology and Conservation highlights the importance of incorporating animal social structure into conservation plans. By analyzing individual animal social interactions before, during, and after human intervention, wildlife managers can increase post-translocation success rates.
A study published in Biological Conservation highlights the importance of tree dens for pandas raising infants in native habitats. Tree dens provide a more stable microclimate than cave dens, facilitating offspring survival. This research emphasizes the need to preserve large old trees for giant panda conservation.
A recent study found that high levels of human impact on chimpanzee habitats lead to a significant reduction in behavioral diversity. The researchers analyzed data from 144 social groups across Africa and found that behaviors such as tool use, nut consumption, and thermoregulation were lost at sites with high human disturbance.
The San Diego Zoo's breeding program for endangered Hawaiian birds aims to strike a balance between animal welfare and conservation needs. Researchers studied the welfare of several species, including the 'alalā and 'akikiki, using guidelines from the 'Opportunity to Thrive' model.
A recent study published in Ursus highlights the significance of water holes not only as drinking water sources but also as sites for Andean bears to communicate with each other. The locations of rubbed trees and shrubs near water holes were concentrated on trails, indicating potential conflicts between humans and bears.
A large-scale study examines giant panda habitat use trends and changing threats to their survival, providing scientific evidence of conservation success. However, emerging new threats such as livestock and human disturbance are offsetting gains, highlighting the need for continued protections and adaptive management.
Researchers have identified valuable pools of genetic material from cryopreserved cell lines, which may help guide a tailored recovery program for the northern white rhinoceros. The study's findings suggest that advanced sequencing technologies and novel reproductive strategies could improve recovery efforts for other endangered species.
A new study finds that large forest birds such as raptors and hornbills are being killed for bushmeat, leading to a decline in their populations. The research also reveals a surprising link between education levels and hunting habits, suggesting that higher education levels may be contributing to the problem.
A new study found that declines in specific Amazonian tree communities are linked to the loss of large vertebrate populations. The research, published in the Journal of Ecology, suggests that defaunation may not lead to massive biomass losses, but further on-the-ground research is needed to understand its long-term impact.
Research shows that Tasmanian devil populations are declining by 80 percent due to devil facial tumor disease, a rare and contagious cancer. Despite this, some wild populations are adapting with slight reproductive changes, such as younger breeding and more pouch young.
A new study reveals polar bears have higher metabolic rates than previously thought, emphasizing their energy demands and foraging success. As Arctic sea ice declines, polar bears will face reduced access to seal prey and increased travel costs, potentially leading to population decline.
Researchers found that tigers are clinging to survival in low-density populations due to habitat loss and fragmentation. The study revealed that primary forests are 47% more abundant than degraded forests, and extensive clearing has disproportionately reduced tiger numbers.
A study by San Diego Zoo Global found that changing diets for southern white rhinos to low phytoestrogen levels improved reproductive success. The switch resulted in two females becoming pregnant and giving birth to healthy calves.
Researchers at San Diego Zoo Global discovered that compatible panda personalities play a crucial role in breeding success. The study found that certain traits, such as excitability and aggression, are more effective when paired together.
A study published in Animal Behaviour documents changes in the 'alalā's vocal repertoire, including a reduction in alarm calls and territory broadcasts. This cultural shift may be related to differences in behavior necessary for survival in protected aviaries.
The San Diego Zoo's Frozen Zoo cell cultures contain genetic variation missing in surviving individuals of the critically endangered northern white rhinoceros. Genome-wide levels of genetic diversity and inbreeding in both southern and northern white rhinos were examined to aid future efforts toward genetic rescue and assisted reproduc...
A study published in Journal of Applied Ecology found that juvenile desert tortoises released into habitat with vegetation, rocks, and animal burrows had lower mortality rates. The researchers also discovered that tortoises on rocky ground were less likely to disperse away from their release site.