The Wild Animal Initiative has announced the 2025 Challenge Grants, an exciting funding opportunity aimed at supporting pioneering research that advances the understanding and improvement of wild animal welfare. This program is designed to encourage innovative projects that address critical, underexplored questions in the field of wild animal welfare science particularly those that conventional funding bodies often overlook. By supporting these initiatives, the organization hopes to expand the evidence base needed to make well-informed decisions about how best to protect and support wild animals in their natural environments.
Purpose and Objectives
The Challenge Grants are intended to stimulate groundbreaking research that has the potential to transform our understanding of how wild animals live, behave, and interact with their environments. The focus of the program is on studies that not only contribute to academic knowledge but also have practical implications for improving the welfare of animals living in the wild. Researchers are encouraged to explore questions related to animal well-being, environmental changes, behavioral ecology, and the impacts of human activity on animal populations. Projects that bridge the gap between theory and practice offering real-world applications and policy relevance are particularly encouraged.
Funding and Grant Value
Successful applicants will receive grants ranging between USD 50,000 and USD 100,000, depending on the scale, scope, and potential impact of the proposed research. These funds are meant primarily to cover direct research expenses such as fieldwork costs, laboratory supplies, and materials. However, other justified costs, including researcher stipends, salaries, or essential equipment, may also be considered. The Wild Animal Initiative places emphasis on financial accountability and value for money, ensuring that each funded project delivers meaningful outcomes relative to the investment made.
Eligibility Criteria
The Challenge Grants are open to researchers and scientists affiliated with recognized institutions such as universities, research centers, or government agencies. The principal investigator must be an experienced researcher capable of independently leading a high-quality scientific study. While collaboration with graduate students or early-career researchers is encouraged, the overall project leadership must demonstrate a strong academic and professional record.
Applicants whose work involves international or field-based research must ensure collaboration with residents or local researchers from the country or region where the study will take place. For projects managed by non-governmental organizations, official registration within the host country is mandatory. This ensures ethical and equitable collaboration, as well as compliance with local research standards and biodiversity regulations.
Scope of Research
The Challenge Grants program is open to both standalone studies and projects that expand upon existing research by integrating a wild animal welfare perspective. Proposals should aim to answer pressing questions, test innovative methods, or develop new frameworks that can guide conservation and welfare efforts. Topics may include understanding stress responses in wild populations, assessing the welfare impacts of environmental disturbances, or developing welfare-sensitive management practices for wildlife habitats.
The initiative encourages multidisciplinary approaches, combining insights from ecology, biology, ethics, and policy studies to create a holistic understanding of wild animal welfare. Proposals that demonstrate clear scientific rigor, originality, and feasibility will be prioritized during the evaluation process.
Application Process
Interested applicants must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) outlining their research concept, objectives, methods, and potential impact. The deadline for EOIs is November 14, 2025. Following this initial phase, shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit a full proposal for further consideration. At this stage, applicants who also express interest in the associated fellowship opportunities will be notified if they qualify for a postdoctoral or PhD-level fellowship to accompany their research grant.
Applications will be reviewed by a committee of experts in wildlife science, welfare, and conservation, who will assess proposals based on scientific merit, innovation, ethical considerations, and relevance to the initiative’s mission.
Conclusion
The Wild Animal Initiative Challenge Grants 2025 represent a major opportunity for researchers committed to advancing the science of wild animal welfare. With generous financial support, a strong focus on innovation, and a commitment to filling key knowledge gaps, the program stands as a catalyst for transformative research that can influence both academic understanding and practical conservation policy. By empowering researchers to explore the complex lives of wild animals, this initiative contributes meaningfully to building a world where the well-being of all species is recognized, valued, and protected.
