The Leibniz-IZW is an internationally renowned German research institute. It is part of the Forschungsverbund Berlin e.V. and a member of the Leibniz Association. Our goal is to understand the adaptability of wildlife in the context of global change and to contribute to the enhancement of the survival of viable wildlife populations. For this purpose, we investigate the diversity of life histories, the mechanisms of evolutionary adaptations and their limits, including diseases, as well as the interrelations of wildlife with their environment and people. We use expertise from biology and veterinary medicine in an interdisciplinary approach to conduct fundamental and applied research – from the molecular to the landscape level – in close dialogue with the public and stakeholders. Additionally, we are committed to unique and high-quality services for the scientific community.

+++ Current information on African swine fever: The Leibniz-IZW conducts research on the population dynamics, on models of disease outbreaks in wild boars and on the ecology and human-wildlife interaction in urban areas. African swine fever is a reportable disease in domestic swine and therefor is the purview of the respective federal state laboratories and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (Federal Research Institute for Animal Health) FLI. +++

News

soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus)
The soprano pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pygmaeus). Photo: CC Voigt/ IZW

Germany’s “energywende” threatens migratory bats

Numerous bats are killed by German wind turbines. The number of such turbines, already very high, is planned to be increased further. More than two-thirds of bats being killed by wind turbines on German ground are migrants on their way between summer and winter habitats. Due to its geographical location in Europe, Germany has consequently a central responsibility for the conservation of migratory bats.

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Golden jackal (Canis aureus). Photo: Oliver Höner/ IZW

The first kobuviruses described from Africa

An international team of researchers led by scientists at the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) genetically describe the first kobuviruses to be reported from Africa. The results show that the viruses are less host-specific than previously assumed. The study has been published in the scientific journal “Virology”.

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Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Photo: Jennifer Zahmel/ IZW
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Photo: Jennifer Zahmel/ IZW

Frozen semen from lions are capable to produce embryos

Scientists from Berlin successfully produced embryos from African lions via assisted reproduction. What is genuinely new is the fact that they used immature eggs that were retrieved from African lionesses. After artificial maturation these eggs were injected with lions’ sperm, previously stored in a cryobank. To surprise of the scientists from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) the development of the lion embryos was retarded in comparison to similar embryos from domestic cats.

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Spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. Photo: Oliver Höner/IZW
Spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in the Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. Photo: Oliver Höner/IZW

A new method for hormone research in wildlife

Quantifying the by-products of hormone degradation in urine and faeces is crucial for studies in wildlife conservation. Scientists from the German Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) established a new method that allows comparison of such measurements over long periods of time and between different laboratories. The results of this study have been published in the scientific journal “Methods in Ecology and Evolution”.

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Flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps); Authors: Wilting, Mohamed/ Sabah Wildlife Depatment, Sabah Forestry Department
Flat-headed cat; Photo: Wilting, Mohamed/ Sabah Wildlife Depatment, Sabah Forestry Department

As trees are cut and climates shift, can the animals of Borneo be saved?

Despite the fact that many of Borneo’s rare species are in trouble new research published in the journal Current Biology shows that by using targeted conservation measures many of these species could be saved.

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A young brown rat (Rattus norvegicus).  Testes and white blood cells shown. Photo: IZW/Jundong Tian
A young brown rat (Rattus norvegicus). Photo: IZW/Jundong Tian

Sexually-transmitted diseases: do multiple partners mean more immunity?

It has been assumed that the increased transmission of sexually-transmitted diseases in the case of mating promiscuity is influential in shaping the immune system of mammals. Results published in the scientific journal “Functional Ecology” this week demonstrate that this simple idea does not apply to rodents, and that living circumstances and the environment can be a key factor in determining variation in immune investment among mammals.

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Dr Erik Meijaard of Borneo Futures, Jakarta
Orang-Utan: Dr Erik Meijaard of Borneo Futures, Jakarta

New hope for Borneo’s orang-utans despite climate change and deforestation threats

New conservation research has discovered that up to 74% of current orang-utan habitat in Borneo could become unsuitable for this endangered species due to 21st century climate or land-cover changes.

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Caption see below press release. Photo: Thomas Hackmann

Leopard complex spotting and congenital night blindness – ancient horse DNA reveals human breeding preferences

Over the millennia people have repeatedly changed the coat patterns and colours of domestic animals through selective breeding. In particular, leopard complex spotting in horses has been repeatedly a favourite pattern since the beginning of domestication about 5500 years ago, as an international team of scientists has now been able to demonstrate. The study emphasises how changing fashions and repeated cross-breeding of wild and domestic horses have substantially enhanced the genetic diversity of the domestic horse. The results of the study have just been published in the renowned scientific journal Philosophical Transactions B of the Royal Society.

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