Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

Within the discipline of wildlife biology, ITAW focuses on basic research, applied research and monitoring. Research is concentrated on diseases in wild animals and diseases transmittable between humans and animals, so-called zoonoses. Other areas of interest include habitat use, bioacoustics, wildlife behavior, nutrition and management, as well as the ecology of wild animals as it relates to issues of environmental protection and conservation. ITAW aims to elucidate the biology and ecology of wild animals and to investigate the influence of anthropogenic activities on wildlife. The Institute offers unique educational opportunities in the field of wildlife research for PhD programs and doctoral, master and bachelor theses in the specialties of veterinary medicine, biology, landscape conservation and forestry. The Institute is integrated in the course curriculum of the University of Veterinary Medicine and, in addition, offers lectures and internships in wildlife biology to students matriculated in biology programs. It is the first facility in Germany accredited by the European College of Zoological Medicine to offer specialized education in wildlife population health. In addition, teleinjection courses are offered biannually. Scientists at TiHo have been conducting wildlife research since 1980. Mutual relationships between native wild animals and environmental factors have been the primary focus of research. Examples of current research projects include, the decline in pheasant populations, infectious diseases in predators, population development of hoofed game and black grouse, and the associated damage in Lower Saxony, scientific monitoring of the natural re-establishment of wolves in Lower Saxony, as well as the continuous monitoring of wild animals, conducted jointly with the hunters of Lower Saxony, which has produced information on population sizes and the occurrence of different native wild animal species for more than 30 years.