University-led Darwin Plus-funded projects showcased at World Wildlife Day!

World Wildlife Day is a global annual event that celebrates and raises awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants. Hosted by the Gibraltar Natural History Museum, the event took place at Parson’s Lodge on Saturday 5^th April.

Lillianne Hawkins Fellowship (Project Ref: DPLUS217):

Darwin Fellow Lillianne Hawkins was on location throughout the day, promoting her work on the scientific management of Gibraltar’s Barbary Macaque (Macaca sylvanus) population. By conducting thorough census work, exploring human-macaque conflict mitigation strategies, and developing a computerised animal records database, this project lays the foundation for informed research and policymaking that will ensure the long-term survival of this iconic species. The Project is led by Prof Julia Fa, who is a Beacon Professor at our University.

Gibraltar Biodiversity Gateway (Project Ref: DPL00109):

Project lead Caroline Moss-Gibbons and project assistant Nell Cava presented their open, cloud-based resource for Gibraltar’s natural environment. This portal serves as a ‘one-stop shop’ for diverse research projects and materials, making vital information accessible to researchers, policymakers, and the public. Collaborating with the Gibraltar Botanic Gardens and the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society, they are unifying scattered resources for greater impact.

Outreach efforts for both projects featured engaging presentations that highlighted the concepts of the activities and were accessible to the public, including an infographic poster produced by PhD researcher Bethany Gadd, who is also conducting her studies on Barbary Macaques.

Also included were fun, interactive activities, such as word searches and colouring pages for children inspired by Gibraltar’s iconic species (such as the Barbary macaque and Barbary partridge), ensuring an interactive experience for attendees of all ages.

A huge thank you to Lillianne, Caroline, Nell and Bethany for putting their passion into these important initiatives and sharing their knowledge with the community!

We would also like to thank Darwin Plus for funding these initiatives that have greatly contributed to maximising outreach and capacity building in Gibraltar. WWD 2025 was the perfect opportunity to highlight our contribution to Gibraltar’s environmental sustainability and knowledge sharing.