Our team has recently published groundbreaking research in the European Journal of Wildlife Research, revealing critical challenges in estimating mountain ungulate populations, particularly Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica).

Our key findings are:

1. Detection Challenges: Direct counts systematically underestimate population size, with detection errors exceeding 50% in all surveys, regardless of observer expertise.
2️. Observer Expertise Matters: Experts detected 16% more ibexes than beginners, with males being ~13% easier to spot than females.
3️. Habitat Impacts: Dense vegetation and rugged terrain contribute significantly to under-detection.
4️. Improved Methods Needed: While distance sampling and observer training help, they fail to fully address systematic biases.

These findings have far-reaching consequences for conservation, hunting quotas, and wildlife health monitoring. Accurate population assessments are vital to sustainable wildlife management.

More about our work here https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10344-024-01883-3