By Cecilia Derrick, 31st July 2026
The latest issue of Oryx celebrates early-career conservationists, featuring 12 articles led by first-time authors whose research spans human–wildlife conflict, species recovery, conservation psychology and protected area management. Highlights include the cover article by Rinaldi García et al. on a livestock guarding dog and pumas in Argentina, as well as insights into the role of emotion in conservation decision-making, an assessment of conservation challenges in the conflict-affected W–Arly–Pendjari Complex of West Africa, and evidence that live animal programmes may influence children’s attitudes towards conservation and exotic pet ownership. The issue also presents research on species conservation, from dholes, tigers and tapirs to brazilwood, orchids and Townsend’s shearwater.
In the editorial, Brendan Fisher and Martin Fisher reflect on the importance of supporting early-career conservationists and guiding first-time authors through manuscript preparation, peer review and publication. They argue that nurturing the next generation of conservation researchers is as important as advancing conservation science itself. Through these contributions, the authors showcase the breadth of contemporary conservation research while celebrating an important milestone in the careers of emerging conservationists.
Explore the full contents and our Editor’s picks below:
Editor’s picks
- Pumas and livestock guarding dog interactions: a case study from an area of human–carnivore conflict in central Argentina — Rinaldi García et al.
- More than reason: the roles of emotion in nature conservation decision-making processes — Lawrence
- Demographic insights guide conservation priorities for the threatened orchid Cattleya quadricolor in tropical dry forest — Torres Torres et al.
- Contribution of an urban green space to the success of the Ariel toucan reintroduction in an Atlantic Forest National Park — Zagury et al.
Becoming a conservationist
- Pumas and livestock guarding dog interactions: a case study from an area of human–carnivore conflict in central Argentina — Rinaldi García et al.
- More than reason: the roles of emotion in nature conservation decision-making processes — Lawrence
- Understanding the conservation challenges of armed conflicts in protected areas: insights from the W–Arly–Pendjari Complex in Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger — Houehounha et al.
- Age matters: impact of live animal programmes for children on conservation intent and desire for exotic pets — Palmer et al.
- Assessing awareness and perceptions of shark fishing regulations for improved fisheries management — Gule Godage et al.
- Demographic insights guide conservation priorities for the threatened orchid Cattleya quadricolor in tropical dry forest — Torres Torres et al.
- Conservation of Atlantic Forest fragments: is the iconic brazilwood Paubrasilia echinata adequately protected in south-east Brazil? — Rosa et al.
- Could prey support the recovery of a tiger population? Long-term prey density and carrying capacity assessment of a tiger reserve in India — Siddiqui et al.
- A multi-scale environmental niche model for the Endangered dhole Cuon alpinus — Khatiwada et al.
- Reintroduced tapirs Tapirus terrestris recover their natural activity patterns — Matheus et al.
- Contribution of an urban green space to the success of the Ariel toucan reintroduction in an Atlantic Forest National Park — Zagury et al.
- Update on the conservation status of Townsend’s shearwater Puffinus auricularis: breeding colonies, reproductive success and population trend — Solís-Carlos et al.
Behind the cover
Livestock guarding dogs, such as the Maremmano breed pictured, can play a key role in reducing conflict between people and large carnivores, including the puma Puma concolor. An analysis of 5 years of camera-trap data provides insights into how a guarding dog and pumas share the landscape of a sheep ranch in central Argentina, an area of intense conflict between livestock production and wild carnivores. Pumas were primarily nocturnal, whereas the dog was active during the day, and although interactions between them were infrequent, there was some evidence that pumas avoid the dog. This exploration of interactions between a livestock guarding dog and pumas contributes to our understanding of how these dogs work as a non-lethal measure to mitigate human–carnivore conflicts. (Photograph © Bruno D’Amicis/NaturePL.com)
A puma Puma concolor predating on sheep, recorded on a camera trap on a ranch in central Argentina (Rinaldi García et al.).
Editorial
Becoming a conservationist: supporting early-career authors — B. Fisher & M. Fisher
The editorial by Brendan Fisher, member of the Oryx International Board of Editors, and Oryx Editor Martin Fisher celebrates the next generation of conservation scientists and their innovative conservation solutions. Methods such as using Maremmano livestock guarding dogs in Argentina, an ancient, non-lethal tool, are helping reduce conflict between ranchers and pumas and are illustrating the value of reimagining traditional practices for modern conservation challenges. Our editorial also introduces the first cohort of articles that originated from the journal’s first-time author initiative, showcasing 12 articles by early-career researchers from 10 different countries. Spanning topics from species recovery and human–wildlife coexistence to conservation psychology and the impacts of insecurity on protected areas, these studies reflect the diversity, creativity and optimism of contemporary conservation. Above all, the editorial reaffirms our commitment to supporting emerging conservationists as they take their first steps in scientific publishing.
Cattleya quadricolor in situ in the Colombian tropical dry forest. Photo: Gabriela Torres.
Conservation news
- A beautiful, bioculturally important Game Reserve is dying in plain sight — Pooley
- Bats and Key Biodiversity Areas — Mickleburgh & Waldien
- The Brazilian National Forest Inventory provides data to support the application of IUCN Red List criteria — da Silva Ribeiro et al.
- Conservation initiative launched for threatened wild plants in Xinjiang, China — Wang et al.
- Ex situ conservation of the Critically Endangered Cycas orixensis — Naorem & Singh Khuraijam
- Limestone mining threatens endemic herb: conservation actions are urgent — Valadares et al.
- Ants in the pet trade: an urgent call to CITES Parties to protect global ant diversity from emerging trade threats — Henriques et al.
- Adoption of new IUCN resolution guiding the conservation of amphibians — Borzée et al.
- Policy decision-making for the striped hyaena under uncertainty — Schlüter
Inboard multi-day fishing vessel in Sri Lanka. See Gule Godage et al.
