The foundation will be awarding nearly 75,000 euros in funding for projects to study wildlife and biodiversity
A record 39 applications were submitted in this year’s edition
The Fundació Barcelona Zoo has awarded five grants to projects for research, conservation, protection and preservation of wild animals and biodiversity. Part of the foundation’s Research and Conservation Programme (PRIC), this year’s edition attracted a record number of applications. A panel made up of leading professionals from the scientific community assessed a total of 39 applications. The winning projects will receive a total amount of 73,425 euros.
In this 16th edition, one of the factors taken into account in the selection of the winning projects was the leadership of young pre- or post-doctoral researchers. For the Barcelona Zoo, the goal of these grants is to support the development of their research careers, particularly in a context where it is essential to drive generational turnover by getting new generations interested in this discipline.
Mediterranean ecosystems and fauna, the focus of the winning projects
The projects selected in this edition mainly focus on the study of Mediterranean ecosystems and fauna, as well as research into animal welfare. When choosing the projects, special consideration was given to those combining approaches from disciplines such as biology and medicine, and those that have applications in species conservation and welfare.
Barcelona Zoo, committed to biodiversity
Scientific research and dissemination are strategic priorities for the Zoo. In this respect, the annual grants from the foundation are well-established as a key tool for promoting scientific knowledge and raising awareness about the importance of preserving ecosystems.
The grants represent a strong commitment to collaborating with young researchers, institutions and expert organisations, strengthening both in-house and collaborative research and conservation projects that seek to protect the planet’s most vulnerable species.
List of studies receiving grants:
- Epidemiological study of leishmaniasis at the Barcelona Zoo: terrestrial wildlife in captivity, synanthropic murids and their vectors.
- Ungulate cognition and welfare.
- Study of the decline in small mammal populations in Catalonia using new technologies.
- Research and management for the conservation of the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus) at the confluence of the Segre and Noguera Pallaresa rivers.
- Understanding early adversity in non-human primates: impact on their mental health and strategies for improving their well-being.
