Wildlife biology is the science of wild animals: how they live, how many there are, what they need and how people can share landscapes with them. Wildlife conservation turns that science into action, from protecting habitat to stopping poaching and bringing species back from the brink.
This course is the practical partner to our Ecology course. Where the ecology course explains how ecosystems work, this one focuses on animals and on the skills used by wildlife biologists, rangers, safari guides and conservation managers. Every module has a real case study, a short field activity you can do yourself and an interactive quiz.
Who this course is for
- Students considering a degree or career in wildlife biology, zoology or conservation.
- Safari guides, rangers and park staff who want a structured refresher.
- Travellers and naturalists who want to understand and read the animals they see.
- Volunteers and citizen scientists preparing for fieldwork.
Course structure
Unit 1: Foundations of wildlife science
- What is wildlife science? The history of wildlife management and conservation, and what wildlife biologists do today.
- Animal diversity and classification How scientists name and group animals, and the major groups you will meet.
- Anatomy, physiology and adaptations How bodies are shaped by heat, cold, diet and predators.
Unit 2: Behaviour and ecology of wildlife
- Animal behaviour Foraging, social systems, communication and why animals do what they do.
- Habitat, home range and migration Where animals live, how far they roam and why some migrate.
- Counting and monitoring wildlife How we know how many animals there are, and whether numbers are changing.
Unit 3: Field skills
- Tracks, signs and field identification Reading footprints, droppings, feeding signs and calls.
- Ornithology and birding skills Identifying birds by sight and sound, and recording them for science.
- Fieldwork safety, ethics and permits Staying safe around wildlife and doing research responsibly.
Unit 4: Threats and management
- Threats to wildlife Habitat loss, overexploitation, invasive species, disease, pollution and climate change.
- Human–wildlife conflict and coexistence Crop-raiding elephants, livestock-killing predators and the solutions that work.
- Protected areas and wildlife management How parks are designed and managed, from fire to water to tourism.
Unit 5: Conservation in practice
- Species recovery and reintroduction How species are brought back from the brink.
- Wildlife trade, crime and law CITES, trafficking routes, forensics and enforcement.
- Careers in wildlife conservation Paths, skills, qualifications, funding and how to get your first job.
How to use the course
Each module takes 30 to 45 minutes. Read the module, try the field activity, then take the quiz. Scoring 60 percent or more marks a module as complete, and your progress is saved in your browser. Modules link to animal profiles, continent guides and ecology lessons across Wild Chapter.
After the course
- Apply your skills with citizen science projects such as eBird and iNaturalist.
- Look for funding and training in our guide to research grants, fellowships and training.
- Learn to write a winning application with our grant proposal guide, and to publish your results with our guide to writing a scientific report.