The Nubian ibex Capra nubiana was categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2020. Historically, its distribution extended from north-east Africa to the Middle East. Its current distribution in Saudi Arabia according to the IUCN Red List is unclear, suggesting that it may be restricted to one location, and may have been extirpated from 11 other sites. During 2020–2022, camera-trap surveys were undertaken to determine the presence of the Arabian leopard Panthera pardus nimr within Saudi Arabia, covering the habitat of the Nubian ibex and providing an opportunity to review its distribution. We obtained 426 Nubian ibex records from 42 camera-trap stations, comprising 113 independent detections at eight of the 16 sites surveyed. Additionally, the species is known to occur in at least five areas where captive-bred Nubian ibex have been released. Our findings confirm that wild Nubian ibex populations persist along the mountain ranges in the west of the country and highlight areas that remain important refuges for this ungulate. Reintroductions have become a key strategy in Saudi Arabia to reinforce threatened populations and increase the geographical range of the Nubian ibex. We advocate a cautious approach to reintroductions, based on population-level genetic research on both wild and reintroduced populations.

Historical-ecological approaches are increasingly being used to supplement biodiversity research. These approaches include gathering data from previously underutilized sources such as travellers’ accounts of species observations. Around 70 years ago, Sir David Attenborough began the Zoo Quest expeditions, in which he travelled to various tropical and subtropical locations to seek animals, plants and human cultures that in many cases had rarely, if ever, been captured on film before. I reviewed the books associated with these expeditions for observations of animal species, and gathered data from the IUCN Red List on the species’ geographical ranges and their status. I found that Attenborough documented 375 taxa, which included 21 classes, 82 orders, 152 families, 170 genera and 158 distinct species (eight species were recorded more than once across multiple expeditions, so in total 167 taxa were actually identified to species). Almost all species appeared to have been observed within their current geographical ranges, but there were discrepancies with the observed locations of five species. These results further demonstrate the potential value of travellers’ accounts for informing biodiversity baselines and trends, although as with any historical sources there are potential limitations to the data quality. This study nonetheless shows that Attenborough’s works provide novel sources of historical biodiversity data.

Leisure pursuits involving wildlife, nature-based tourism and ecotourism enrich visitor experiences and satisfaction. However, the growing popularity of watching wildlife can cause additional pressure on ecosystems. These pressures can disrupt wildlife behaviours such as foraging, migration and reproduction. Understanding visitor preferences to conserve the natural sites they visit is equally important for sustainability. In this study, we elicited willingness to pay, using the contingent valuation method, for conservation of the Endangered red panda Ailurus fulgens in eastern Nepal. During 15 March–3 April 2021, we conducted surveys with 102 visitors in Sandakpur. Using a questionnaire, respondents were asked to state their entry fee preferences for red panda conservation. The study used logistic regression to analyse the determinants of willingness to pay, and a five-point Likert scale to assess visitors’ satisfaction level. The mean willingness to pay was USD 14.21. The primary reason for visitors’ willingness to pay was to promote conservation and improve habitat management. In contrast, those unwilling to pay cited a concern that their donations would not be managed properly. These insights will help inform the design of conservation strategies for ecotourism and wildlife management in Nepal, and our findings could serve as a model for balancing visitor engagement with sustainable wildlife management in similar contexts elsewhere.

The Endangered Kashmir musk deer Moschus cupreus is a conservation priority species facing population decline as a result of habitat loss and illegal hunting for its musk pod. Effective conservation requires identifying habitats that support the species’ survival and persistence. We used sign survey and camera-trap data with single-species occupancy modelling to examine the environmental factors influencing the species’ habitat use in Pattan Valley, Himachal Pradesh, and Govind Pashu Vihar National Park, Uttarakhand, India. We deployed a total of 43 camera traps and surveyed 54 trails in Pattan Valley, and had 23 camera traps and 43 trails in Govind Pashu Vihar National Park. The results indicate that M. cupreus occupies conifer forests (Pinus wallichiana, Picea smithiana, Abies spectabilis and Cedrus deodara, intermixed with Betula utilis) at 2,946–4,418 m in Pattan Valley, and mixed forests (P. wallichiana, P. smithiana, C. deodara, B. utilis, A. spectabilis, Taxus wallichiana and Quercus semecarpifolia) at 2,145–3,641 m in the National Park. Elevation and conifer forests had positive influences on the occupancy and detection probability of Kashmir musk deer in Pattan Valley, similarly mixed forests and elevation had positive influences on occupancy and detection probability, respectively, in Govind Pashu Vihar National Park. Contrarily, supporting model suggests that conifer forests have a negative influence on detection probability of Kashmir musk deer in the National Park. As high-altitude forested areas are vital habitat for M. cupreus, there is a need to improve protection and minimize anthropogenic disturbance in these areas. Our findings will aid wildlife managers in conservation planning and help inform management decisions for this species.

Monotypic taxa, often defined by unique evolutionary histories, disjunct distributions, and narrow ecological niches, are of exceptional conservation importance. Here, we document the rediscovery of Indianthus virgatus (Marantaceae), a Critically Endangered monotypic species, in Sri Lanka after 170 years. Endemic to the Western Ghats–Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot, the species was presumed possibly extinct in the wild in Sri Lanka, with the last known collection made by G.H.K. Thwaites in 1855. During targeted surveys conducted over 2 years, we located a wild population of I. virgatus along the Sitawaka Ganga River in a lowland evergreen forest fragment in Sabaragamuwa Province. Morphological analyses confirmed the species’ identity and revealed hitherto undocumented characteristics, including the presence of 1–3 seeds per fruit. This rediscovery after 170 years highlights the importance of targeted field surveys and the urgent need to conserve this Critically Endangered species under the national biodiversity conservation framework.

Land snails of the genus Poecilozonites, endemic to Bermuda, have undergone precipitous declines, and both extant species, P. bermudensis and P. circumfirmatus, are categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Here we report on recovery efforts to reintroduce P. bermudensis derived from a remnant wild population and ex situ breeding programme to within the species’ indigenous range. Follow-up monitoring of initial reintroductions on the small Nonsuch Island carried out over 7 years revealed that the snails rapidly established a self-sustaining population at one of three release sites. By 2023, the snails, released in 2016, had increased their area of occupancy to 6,849 m2, moved up to 92 m from the release site, and reached an estimated mean density of up to 44.2 adult snails/m2. Across the archipelago, we released 105,970 P. bermudensis (adults and juveniles) to 11 offshore islands and 16 main island sites from 2019 to 2022. Based on persistence, reproduction, and expansion from the release site after at least 1 year from release, reintroductions to six offshore islands were successful, but those on the main island failed, possibly because of higher predation pressure and paucity of suitable refuges. Controlling predators, such as rodents, and safeguarding these offshore islands against predator incursion is essential to ensure continued survival of the reintroduced populations.

Globally the tropical aquatic aquarium trade is a multi-million-dollar industry. Although marine ornamental fish and invertebrates are the main focus, tropical freshwater ornamental species including invertebrates (classed by the sector as semi-aquatic, such as land crabs) are also traded. Land crabs include both brachyurans (true crabs) and anomurans (false crabs, including hermit crabs). These are sourced from wild populations and/or tank-bred for use as ornamental commodity species. This global trade is unregulated and the full extent of the brachyuran land crab trade is unknown. Land crabs are important ecosystem engineers, and collection for the tropical freshwater/semi-aquatic aquarium industry is believed to be detrimental to their wild populations. We undertook the first systematic survey of the e-commerce of brachyuran land crabs, allowing us to document which species are traded globally and to what extent within the tropical freshwater/semi-aquatic aquarium industry and/or the exotic pet trade. Focusing on English language websites, we identified 15 sellers, based in the UK, USA and continental Europe. Twenty-three species were available for purchase, sold under 61 vernacular names, with listings that could not be identified to species falling into three genera. In five cases, a single vernacular name was used to refer to multiple species within or across genera. We recommend that comprehensive monitoring of this trade should be established, to understand the effects of land crab collection on their populations and whether any of the traded species could become invasive.

In human-dominated landscapes, the effectiveness of ecological corridors in connecting wildlife populations depends not only on ecological but also on human factors, particularly on human–wildlife interactions and the acceptance of wildlife by landowners or managers. The Tenorio–Miravalles Biological Corridor in Costa Rica offers a unique opportunity to examine the relationship between local acceptance of the presence of the Endangered Baird’s tapir Tapirus bairdii and movement on private lands and the functionality of ecological corridor connectivity, as tapir sightings are common in the area. Using land-use analysis, we identified low-resistance, least-cost routes that highlight key habitat connectivity pathways. The corridor provides high structural connectivity for tapirs, with critical habitat fragments concentrated in the northern and southern sectors. In-depth interviews with 31 landowners and managers revealed varied levels of acceptance of the tapir’s presence, influenced by perceived costs and benefits, control, affective responses and trust in institutions. Although most respondents expressed positive emotions toward tapirs, their interactions and behaviours regarding tapir presence and movement on private land varied. These diverse responses underscore the range of human actions that can either impede or facilitate the movement of tapirs. Regardless of how well-connected habitats are structurally, ecological corridors in human-dominated landscapes ultimately depend on the management of human–wildlife interactions. A nuanced understanding of these dynamics is essential for developing connectivity and conservation strategies that align with the perspectives of landowners and managers, and promote sustainable coexistence between wildlife and people.

Effective wildlife monitoring generates valuable information, but it needs to be cost-effective because conservation funding is scarce. Passive acoustic monitoring facilitates monitoring and occupancy estimates of cryptic species, but is rarely used for terrestrial mammals vocalizing in ultrasound (> 20 kHz). Here, we compared the recording quality of two autonomous recording units: Open Acoustic’s AudioMoth and the Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter Mini Bat 2. In June 2024, we conducted an experiment in north-east Thailand, playing modulated ultrasonic sounds in three forest environments. We conducted 108 trials at varying distances during the day and night. We measured the average decibels for each trial and found that the AudioMoth consistently provided equivalent dB readings of ultrasound on spectrograms and detected ultrasonic tones from further away than the Song Meter Mini Bat 2. These data indicate that the AudioMoth could be a cost-effective option for detecting modulated ultrasound at distances of up to 32 m. Cost often limits deployment of monitors, and the ability to maximize efforts while minimizing cost is essential for improved species monitoring.

Human–wildlife conflicts are a growing global issue for wildlife, especially for large carnivores. The leopard Panthera pardus is generally solitary, shy and cryptic; however, human–leopard conflicts occur, including attacks on people. Attacks are generally rare throughout the majority of the species’ range, although in India they have been relatively high and are increasing. A high number of leopard attacks have been reported in the Kashmir region of India since 2000. These have been associated with the loss, fragmentation and degradation of leopard habitat as well as the scarcity of wild prey. We document leopard attacks in the Kashmir region during 2006–2023, examine causes for recent trends and discuss the challenge of coexistence. A total of 424 leopard attacks were reported, of which 312 (73.6%) resulted in injury and 112 (26.4%) in the death of the victim. The attacks were predominantly during February and September, and least during December and April. The peak number of attacks occurred during 10.00–10.59. The majority of the victims were 0–19 or 30–49 years old. Attacks by leopards were rarer than attacks by Asiatic black bears Ursus thibetanus in the same region during the same time period. However, a higher per cent of leopard attacks resulted in deaths. The number of attacks has been declining since 2009, with the exception of 2013. The reason for the decline is likely the removal of problem leopards, and the proactive measures of the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Department and NGOs in the region.

Plantago fengdouensis, a species endemic to China’s Yangtze River Basin, was once presumed extinct in the wild as a result of the complete inundation of its native habitats following the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. Historically documented only on two riverine islets in Fengdu and Zhongxian counties of Chongqing, the species was last observed in 2003 before its habitats were permanently submerged, leading to its designation as the first documented herbaceous plant driven to extinction by the dam project. However, in 2023 a previously unknown population of > 200 individuals was discovered in Jiang’an County, Sichuan Province, representing the largest known wild population to date. From January to May 2023, 273 seeds were collected and conservation research was conducted in the botanical greenhouse of Yibin University. The key to the germination of P. fengdouensis seeds lies in the harvest period. Seeds with light brown seed coats that are not fully mature have the highest germination vitality. Through systematic germination trials, optimal conditions were identified as 24 h pretreatment with 1.0% gibberellin under 28 ℃ and 1,500 Lux illumination, achieving an 87.5% germination rate. During May–November 2024, nursery-grown seedlings were transplanted near the wild population, with an initial 89% establishment success and 98.5% survival after 12 months. These results suggest that P. fengdouensis populations can be effectively restored in situ through seed-based propagation, offering a model for conserving other threatened floodplain species.

As protected areas increasingly compete with other land uses, their ability to generate economic value through tourism has become central to both public acceptance and long-term sustainability. However, the effects of tourism on wildlife remain understudied, particularly in African protected areas. Mole National Park, Ghana’s largest protected area, is critical for both biodiversity conservation and ecotourism. With plans to expand tourism into its less-visited areas, we assessed the impacts of tourism on medium- to large-sized mammals using multiple metrics. Camera traps were deployed across zones with low, medium and high tourism use, recording 24 mammal species over 6,050 trap-days. Although overall species richness and abundance were similar across zones, certain species showed higher relative abundance in high-use areas (e.g. kob Kobus kob, African buffalo Syncerus caffer) and others were more abundant in low-use areas (e.g. western hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus major, African savannah elephant Loxodonta africana). The most consistent effect of higher tourism levels was a shift in daily activity patterns towards more nocturnal behaviour, probably in response to human presence. Olive baboons Papio anubis and common warthogs Phacochoerus africanus, however, maintained peak activity around midday. Juvenile presence was highest in low-tourism zones, suggesting possible reproductive sensitivity to disturbance. These behavioural and demographic responses may have longer-term consequences for population dynamics. Our findings raise concerns about the expansion of tourism into currently undisturbed areas, as wildlife is already responding to existing pressure. We recommend designating no-access zones as wildlife breeding areas, implementing buffer zones based on species activity and educating tourists on responsible wildlife viewing. Finally, we highlight the need for broader research on tourism impacts across conservation landscapes in Africa.

The global ornamental fish trade presents significant challenges to the conservation of biodiversity. In this study we explore patterns in the freshwater ornamental fish market in Hong Kong, one of the largest wildlife trading hubs. We conducted weekly surveys over a 3-month period in Hong Kong’s primary aquarium shop district to document species diversity, conservation status, native origin and market value. A total of 540 freshwater fish species of 73 families were recorded. We found that species occurrence in the market was largely price-driven, and minimum retail price was the strongest predictor of how frequently we encountered a species in our surveys. We assessed each species’ placement along the market occurrence–price gradient and found that potentially undescribed species dominated the expensive/rare end of the market, where the anthropogenic Allée effect (in which novelty/rarity exacerbates exploitation because of increased demand) may be influential. Alarmingly, 86 (16%) of the species in the market were potentially undescribed, and 38% of species in the market were either not evaluated or categorized as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List at the time of our surveys. The significant proportion of unassessed and potentially undescribed species is of concern because of the potential for unsustainable exploitation prior to consideration of appropriate regulatory frameworks. Although our data suggest that cheaper, common species dominate the trade, the substantial presence of little-known species is of conservation concern, underscoring the need for more extensive monitoring.

The domestic cat Felis catus is a predator, variously regarded as a pet, pest or pest controller, making its management ecologically and socially complex. On islands, wildlife predation by cats is a major conservation concern. Knowledge of the ecology of free-roaming cats is essential for identifying the variables that influence their predatory behaviour, for regulating their populations and for controlling their negative effects. We assessed the seasonal diet of free-roaming cats, including the importance of anthropogenic foods, using stable isotope analysis, on Linosa. This small Mediterranean island is home to the largest Scopoli’s shearwater Calonectris diomedea colony in Europe and an important stop-over site for migratory passerines. We also compared the diet of neutered and unneutered cats, to investigate whether differences in husbandry practices influence consumption of wild prey. Cat diets mainly comprised anthropogenic foods during summer and autumn. Consumption of Scopoli’s shearwaters increased during the early chick-rearing period and shifted towards passerines during the autumn migration. Invasive mammals in cat diets were primarily European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus. Unneutered cats consumed more shearwaters and passerines than neutered cats. Neutered individuals relied more heavily on pet foods rather than pasta, possibly indicating improved husbandry conditions. Overall, anthropogenic foods likely support the high cat densities observed on Linosa, and wild prey consumption, primarily by unneutered cats, fluctuated according to availability. Free-roaming cats are protected by Italian Law 280/91, and their populations can be managed only with non-lethal methods. Enhanced cat husbandry and compulsory reproductive control via neutering combined with adoptions could significantly reduce consumption of wild prey.

Assessing extinction risk is important for protecting species, as it is the starting point for conservation efforts. However, in Antarctica, none of the c. 116 species of bryophytes (the main terrestrial plant group) have been assessed. The global Aichi Biodiversity Targets stipulate that countries should have knowledge of the extinction risk of their entire flora. However, the Convention on Biological Diversity does not apply to the area of Antarctic Treaty governance, as Antarctica is not subject to national sovereignty. Recognizing the importance of understanding threats in this remote and ecologically sensitive region, we assessed the extinction risk of the moss Roaldia revoluta (Pylaisiaceae) in Antarctica. As far as we are aware, this is the first extinction risk assessment of a native plant on the Antarctic continent. Additionally, we provide a tool for estimating the number of bryophyte individuals. Our findings indicate R. revoluta should be categorized as Endangered. The species has not been documented in any Antarctic Specially Protected Area, suggesting both weakness in survey effort and a potential gap in conservation action. This study underscores the need for specific measures to mitigate the extinction risk faced by R. revoluta as an exemplar of threats facing Antarctic mosses, and emphasizes the importance of devoting resources to conserving Antarctic flora. This study will encourage further initiatives to investigate the risks facing Antarctic botanical diversity and strengthen support for safeguarding the continent’s biodiversity.