2026 Grantees

CONSERVATION GRANTEES 2026

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Abid Ali

Occupancy monitoring and local stewardship for the conservation of the Kashmir grey langur morphotype (Semnopithecus ajax) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

The Kashmir grey langur (Semnopithecus ajax), Endangered on the IUCN Red List, is highly threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, and human pressures in northern Pakistan. This project will implement systematic occupancy-based surveys across key landscapes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Mansehra, Kohistan, Battagram) to quantify distribution patterns, identify ecological and anthropogenic drivers of site use, and refine habitat suitability and corridor models. By integrating community awareness with capacity building with provincial wildlife authorities, we plan to a) generate actionable conservation strategies, b) establish long-term monitoring protocols, and c) strengthen local stewardship, all contributing directly to the conservation of this poorly understood Himalayan primate.

This project is supported by the Born Free Foundation.

Linus Coppersthwaite

Sociocultural Dimensions of Lemurs and Endangered Species in Northwest Madagascar

Wildlife in Madagascar holds deep cultural significance, shaped by traditional taboos (fady) that influence human-wildlife interactions. While ethnographic research in Southern and Eastern Madagascar has demonstrated the role of ancestral mythology in shaping perceptions of lemuriformes and other wildlife, comparable data are lacking for the Northwest. This study, in collaboration with the University of Antananarivo and the NGO Wildlife Madagascar, examines cultural beliefs and local ecological knowledge associated with at least seven threatened lemurs among communities living in the periphery of Namoroka National Park. Utilising semi-structured interviews, free listing and species identification techniques, this study will generate baseline sociocultural data for an under-researched region and map the beliefs and narratives surrounding lemurs. In turn, the results can provide insight into developing culturally sensitive and community-informed conservation and ecotourism schemes.

This project is supported by Trentham Monkey Forest.

Bianca Soares de Souza Brito

A comparative analysis of vocalisations in hybrid and parental Callithrix species as a tool for automated acoustic identification

The Atlantic Forest is critically threatened and among the world's most endangered biodiversity hotspots, having lost over 88% of its original habitat in Brazil. Only a small fraction remains, highly fragmented with 97% of forest fragments being small (<50 ha). However, the endangered buffy tufted marmoset (Callithrix aurita) is additionally threatened by hybridisation with common marmosets (C. jacchus) and black-tufted marmosets (C. penicillata), risking genetic dilution and threatening the genetic integrity of C. aurita populations. This project aims to test the hypothesis that vocalisation patterns significantly differ between hybrid and parental individuals of the genus Callithrix.  If acoustic markers can differentiate between hybrid and parental lineages, this would provide a low-cost, non-invasive alternative to genetic testing. Moreover, this information would inform conservation interventions to help connect fragments and restore “pure” populations.

CAPTIVE CARE GRANTEES 2026

Alice Hoggarth

Investigating the Social and Welfare Implications of Female-Based Hormonal Contraception in Captive Sulawesi Crested Macaques (Macaca nigra)

Long-term population management within EAZA zoos aims to preserve genetic diversity and maintain stable demographics. Hormonal contraception is commonly used to support these goals; however, there is limited research examining its behavioural, social and welfare implications, particularly when oestrus cycles are suppressed in female primates. Reduced sexual signals may alter how implanted females are perceived by group members, potentially affecting social cohesion, aggression and overall welfare. This study investigates the behavioural consequences of hormonal contraception (Suprelorin, a contraceptive that suppresses female reproductive swellings) in Sulawesi crested macaques (Macaca nigra), a Critically Endangered species managed under an EAZA Ex-situ Programme (EEP). The project aims to develop a standardised methodology for monitoring social behaviour associated with contraception and evaluate its transferability across two zoological collections: Paignton Zoo and Chester Zoo. Monitoring oestrus cycles, spatial relationships and social behaviours will help assess both individual- and group-level impacts. By focusing on behavioural welfare outcomes, this study aims to inform evidence-based population management and support more refined contraceptive use, candidate selection and monitoring practices across EEP programmes.