Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW)

Diseases and changes in the natural habitat threaten many wild animals in their existence. Biologists and veterinarians at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) investigate mammals and birds in their interaction with humans and the environment. The main objective is to explore the benefits and limits of adaptation of large wild animals and their role in natural and cultural ecosystems.
The findings are a prerequisite for scientifically based species protection and for concepts of ecological sustainability in the use of natural resources. The researchers work on site at the IZW and – in collaborative projects – also in Europe, Asia, Africa and North, Central and South America. They carry out application-oriented and interdisciplinary basic research in the fields of evolutionary ecology, evolutionary genetics, wild animal diseases, reproductive biology and reproductive management of zoo and wild animals. The IZW has numerous links with universities and non-university research institutions on a national and international level.