ABSTRACT Conservation management involves consideration of complex trade‐offs arising from the interplay of diverse values. Interspecific hybridisation presents a challenge for conservation, including for seabirds, as hybridisation can reduce reproductive potential or even result in extinction by hybridisation. Hybridisation attempts between two culturally significant species, the Critically Endangered Kuaka Whenua Hou (KWH, Pelecanoides whenuahouensis ) and the abundant Kuaka ( P. urinatrix ) have been observed. Given the perilous conservation status of KWH (~210 adults), we here investigate these attempts, the risk they pose, and assess the efficacy of management interventions that were both data‐ and culturally informed. We first assessed the success of hybridisation attempts through Bayesian nest survival models fitted to seven years of nest monitoring data, which suggested that despite low nest survival (0.054), some hybridisation attempts are successful. We then generated genomic data (including a reference KWH genome assembly, single‐nucleotide markers and mitochondrial genomes), confirming successful hybridisation but an absence of introgression. Nevertheless, hybridisation attempts are indeed a threat to the Critically Endangered KWH due to reduced reproductive potential of the species. All data were incorporated for culturally informed management in the field to minimise hybrid breeding attempts. Results of Bayesian mixed‐effects models indicate that the interventions are producing the intended outcomes: the reduced likelihood of hybridisation. All work, including monitoring, sampling, selecting a reference genome individual, identifying interventions, and executing and evaluating these interventions was conducted in full partnership with Kāi Tahu (the Indigenous People of southern Aotearoa New Zealand). Our study demonstrates the value of integrating multiple evidence streams for real‐world conservation management, in this case, the first culturally informed management of hybridisation attempts in a Critically Endangered seabird.

ABSTRACT The long‐term success of conservation translocations not only relies on the survival and reproductive success of released individuals, but also on addressing challenges related to population expansion up to natural regulation, whether exceeding expected numbers, or hindered by environmental or anthropogenic changes over time. Using the 40‐year dataset of intensive griffon vulture ( Gyps fulvus ) monitoring since its reintroduction in French Grands Causses in 1981, we performed a multi‐strata (multi‐states and multi‐events) mark‐recapture analysis to estimate survival probabilities. We (1) integrated mark‐loss and remarking events, (2) explored a variety of anthropic and environmental factors that may affect survival in this population, such as wind turbines, feeding stations or density dependence. Overall, the life histories of 1506 wild‐born individuals were computed, yielding juvenile survival probabilities of 0.66 (95% CI = 0.605–0.707), immature survival probabilities of 0.91 (95% CI = 0.872–0.937) and adult probabilities of 0.94 (95% CI = 0.917–0.952). Even though founder individuals were released four decades ago, and the population has grown continuously ever since, no effect of density dependence or of potential anthropic threats was detected on survival. Beyond bringing another piece of evidence supporting the relevance of this translocation program, as well as the benefit of regular monitoring efforts over several decades, our findings illustrate the importance of considering the maximum carrying capacity once wildlife populations are restored. Questioning the number of individuals to be expected may indeed allow anticipating both adaptive monitoring and management strategies, and ultimately, ensure the long‐term viability of restored populations.

ABSTRACT The gopher tortoise ( Gopherus polyphemus ) is an ecosystem engineer and keystone species that has experienced population declines of roughly 80% over the past century due to human‐induced habitat loss. In the state of Alabama, the gopher tortoise was designated as a federally threatened species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service west of the Mobile–Tombigbee River (e.g., Mobile County) in 1987. East of the Mobile–Tombigbee River (e.g., Baldwin County), the gopher tortoise is protected only by state agencies. In this case study, we investigate the persistence of localized gopher tortoise populations in federally protected (Mobile) and federally unprotected (Baldwin) counties across a 28‐year period from initial surveys in 1991–1992 to our recent survey in 2018–2020. In addition, we use GIS modeling and 597 burrow coordinates to develop a novel approach to mapping the potential suitable habitat availability in Mobile and Baldwin counties. Our survey results indicate that gopher tortoise populations have declined in both counties since 1991–92, with populations persisting at ~59% of sites in Mobile County and ~31% of sites in Baldwin County, along with a 9.3% decline in burrow abundance in Mobile County and a 20.8% decline in burrow abundance in Baldwin County. Despite an overall decrease in the total number of burrows since 1991–92, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of active status burrows in both counties (Mobile County, 21% increase, and Baldwin County, 25% increase), most likely the result of remnant populations concentrating into suitable habitat. Our GIS model revealed there is a large amount of suitable habitat (232,657 ha) in southwest Alabama to support growing gopher tortoise populations. However, the overall decline in active site persistence and burrow density is likely indicative of the pressure on tortoise populations from increasing human populations.

ABSTRACT While protected areas are the cornerstones of biodiversity, unprotected areas are also critical for primate conservation. It is essential to understand primate responses to human pressure in such areas to guide conservation planning. The unprotected Yabassi Key Biodiversity Area (YKBA), Cameroon, comprising the Ebo, Ndokbou and Makombe forests, is one of the largest remaining tracts of intact forests in the Gulf of Guinea biodiversity hotspot. Unfortunately, knowledge of its primate community remains very limited. Only the Ebo forest, known for its small gorilla population, benefits from consistent conservation attention. This neglect diminishes recognition of YKBA's broader significance for primates. From January to December 2019, we conducted primate surveys across the YKBA, covering over 1500 km of reconnaissance walks and recorded eight of its 10 known diurnal primate species. We overlaid 1x1 km grid cells across the area and applied Bayesian regression models to examine how species richness and occurrence probabilities vary across the three forest blocks and respond to anthropogenic pressure gradients. Our findings revealed higher species richness in Ebo and Ndokbou compared to Makombe. While Preuss's monkeys were absent and chimpanzees and red‐capped mangabeys were very uncommon in Makombe, the predicted occurrence probabilities of other species were relatively similar across the three sites. Species richness increased strongly with distance from roads and moderately with elevation. Yet individual species showed variable patterns along anthropogenic gradients, resulting in contrasting predicted species distribution in the landscape, which suggests that spatial prioritisation based solely on remoteness may fail to conserve species inhabiting easily accessible areas. These results underscore the greater importance of the YKBA for primate conservation than previously recognised. The considerable distribution of primates in Ndokbou and Makombe highlights the need for conservation interventions beyond Ebo. We recommend expanding conservation efforts to encompass the entire YKBA, with a focus on mitigating hunting and land conversion to ensure long‐term human‐primate coexistence.

ABSTRACT Biodiversity in many regions is declining due to multiple extinction drivers, with habitat loss, overexploitation, and climate change often considered among the main ones. Understanding how biodiversity changes with these drivers is crucial for designing effective conservation strategies. The 1.1 million km 2 South American Chaco is one of the ecosystems facing the highest deforestation levels worldwide, but also high exploitation and changes in weather patterns due to global climatic changes. The southern three‐banded armadillo ( Tolypeutes matacus ) is endemic to this biome, where it is commonly hunted. Additionally, due to its rudimentary endothermic control system, it is susceptible to climatic changes. Using ecological niche modeling (ENM) and threat index mapping, we assessed the potential impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and overexploitation on this species. Our findings suggest that, although climate change may expand the range of suitable habitats for the armadillo in the future, the current and intense threats from overexploitation and habitat degradation are likely to undermine these potential opportunities. Immediate action is required to address these pressing issues and halt the decline of the species' population. The findings underscore the necessity for integrated conservation strategies that address multiple threats simultaneously and inform policy measures. These strategies can serve as a model for other species and regions facing similar conservation challenges, ensuring the effective allocation of limited conservation resources and guiding comprehensive approaches to biodiversity preservation.

ABSTRACT Although the African continent remains rich in megafauna, around 50% are threatened with extinction by anthropogenic pressures, with West Africa showing the biggest decline. Many taxa like the West African giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis peralta ) have suffered great range loss and population declines. Now restricted to Niger, the remaining West African giraffe almost exclusively live in densely populated agricultural areas and share their habitat with humans and livestock. Using individual encounter history data from 15 years of annual photographic surveys (2005–2019), we calculated the population's abundance, growth rate, survival, and encounter probabilities. First, we utilised pattern recognition software (HotSpotter) to clean the photographic database and correct individual encounter histories. We subsequently removed 145 double‐counted ‘ghost’ individuals from 979 West African giraffe originally identified during the surveys through manual identification. Such errors and inadequate methodology caused a population overestimation of 18.9% between 2011 and 2018. Updated encounter histories enabled us to accurately calculate abundance and demographic parameters with capture‐mark‐recapture (CMR) methods. By 2018, the population was estimated to have grown to 562 individuals at an average growth rate of 12%. Our results suggest that the data processing methods used in Niger have been increasingly inaccurate. We recommend changes to both monitoring and subsequent data processing to improve their accuracy and effectiveness, and to increase the quality of conservation management decisions for the West African giraffe. Despite local threats, high survival rates and rapid population growth suggest that coexistence with humans can support the recovery of a depleted, slow‐breeding megafauna species, even outside protected areas.

ABSTRACT Infection with a pathogen can trigger a range of physiological changes in the host, often with immediate and noticeable effects. In frogs, early infection with the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ( Bd ) can cause a variety of physiological changes, from mild disturbances such as increased skin shedding and lethargy to more severe disruptions to osmotic regulation and thermal tolerance. We examined how sublethal Bd infection influences critical thermal limits and jumping performance in a threatened alpine frog, Litoria verreauxii alpina , as these survival‐critical traits are often compromised early in infection. We assessed critical thermal minimum, critical thermal maximum, and jumping distance for 6 weeks on unexposed and Bd‐infected individuals. Critical thermal temperatures were found to be similar between unexposed and infected individuals, with an average critical thermal range from −3.5°C to 36.4°C. By Week 6 of the infection experiment, infected frogs exhibited a 23% increase in jumping distance compared to their unexposed counterparts. Our findings reveal that L. v. alpina exhibit a remarkable ability to sustain thermal tolerance and enhance locomotor performance during sublethal Bd infection. This response highlights complex physiological shifts in amphibians under pathogen stress and underscores the importance of further investigating Bd ′s host‐specific effects to inform successful conservation strategies.

ABSTRACT Domestic animals living in the wild pose a serious threat to wildlife, with anthropogenic hybridization and disease transmission being two of the primary concerns. However, the behavioral and ecological mechanisms behind these risks remain poorly understood, especially for rare and elusive taxa. The European wildcat has been the target of a number of studies focused on both hybridization with domestic cats and opportunistic disease surveys, but little attention has been paid to determining the ultimate mechanisms that govern the relationships between these two cat species. Through a seven‐year (2017–2024) field study based on telemetry, camera trapping, and direct observation, we investigated the spatial relationships between wildcats and domestic cats and the prevalence of shared pathogens within a Mediterranean area of sympatry in southeastern Spain. We found evidence of behavioral barriers for both hybridization and disease transmission between European wildcats and domestic cats. This includes hierarchical interspecies exclusion enforced by wildcats, as well as sexual selection exerted by wildcat females. Our results have important implications for the conservation strategies of the European wildcat, and our methodological protocol could guide further etho‐ecological investigations on this and other rare and/or elusive taxa.

ABSTRACT The rapid expansion of wind energy across the Mediterranean region calls for more advanced tools to assess and mitigate its impacts on biodiversity. In this study, we present an innovative approach combining 13‐year satellite imagery analysis and ecological modelling to assess the spatiotemporal overlap between wind energy development and habitat suitability for multiple vulnerable raptor species. We reconstructed a spatio‐temporal trajectory of wind turbine distribution using high‐resolution satellite images, meaning we quantified how and where turbines were installed over time to capture the progressive transformation of the landscape. This trajectory was then spatially compared with habitat suitability maps derived from species distribution models for seven raptor species of conservation concern, while for the Griffon Vulture ( Gyps fulvus ), we used GPS telemetry data. Our analysis revealed an overall 118% increase in wind energy infrastructure over the 13‐year period. A substantial spatial overlap emerged between wind installations and suitable areas for raptors: specifically, we found that 50.5% of suitable areas fall within historically active wind zones (with wind farms operating for at least 13 years), and 73.3% of suitable areas overlap with new wind expansion zones. Although the degree of overlap varied among species, these values indicate that a considerable proportion of suitable habitat for the studied raptors now lies within areas potentially affected by wind turbines. This approach highlights the potential of combining geospatial data, predictive modelling, and a multi‐species perspective to complement traditional assessment methods. Our results offer useful insights for identifying priority areas for monitoring and mitigation and propose a transferable framework that could support more biodiversity‐informed energy planning in Mediterranean ecosystems.