Event Details

During this talk, Dr Katie Edwards of Chester Zoo will present some of the common questions and challenges we face regarding conservation, and highlight the importance of poo to support conservation breeding programmes and increase our knowledge of understudied species.

Conservation physiology integrates the measurement of hormones and other biomarkers that indicate physiological or pathological processes, to assess the health, well-being and reproduction of wildlife. Animal dung contains all sorts of useful information, and non-invasive monitoring of hormone metabolites is increasingly used in a wide range of species, both in zoos and in the wild. These techniques allow us to understand normal physiology and investigate when things aren’t as we might expect, helping us to provide optimal conditions for individuals and populations to thrive and maximize the contribution they can make to global conservation efforts. During this talk, Dr Katie Edwards of Chester Zoo will present some of the common questions and challenges we face, and highlight the importance of poo to support conservation breeding programmes and increase our knowledge of understudied species.