Deadline: November 14, 2025
Applications are now open for the Wild Animal Initiative Challenge Grants 2025, a funding opportunity supporting innovative research that advances the science of wild animal welfare. The Challenge Grants aim to empower scientists and institutions working to understand and improve the lives of wild animals across diverse ecosystems.
The Wild Animal Initiative Challenge Grants 2025 provide between $50,000 and $100,000 in funding for multi-year research projects that tackle the most pressing questions in wild animal welfare science.
About the Wild Animal Initiative Challenge Grants 2025
The Wild Animal Initiative (WAI) supports pioneering research that deepens understanding of the experiences, welfare, and wellbeing of wild animals. Through the Challenge Grants, WAI seeks to fund projects that generate new insights, develop innovative methodologies, and expand the scientific foundation of wild animal welfare.
Projects may span up to five years, allowing researchers to explore complex welfare issues and build strong interdisciplinary collaborations. Funding is available for direct research costs such as supplies, materials, and field expenses. Salaries, stipends, and equipment costs may also be considered if clearly justified. However, institutional overhead or indirect costs are not eligible.
Grant Details
- Funding Amount: USD 50,000 – 100,000
- Duration: Up to 5 years
- Deadline (Expression of Interest): 14 November 2025
- Funding Type: Research grants focused on wild animal welfare science
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Wild Animal Initiative Challenge Grants 2025, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Projects must be led by an experienced Principal Investigator affiliated with a university or research institution.
- Projects involving fieldwork must include collaborators who are residents of all countries where the research will take place.
- If a non-governmental organisation (NGO) is involved, the NGO must be registered in the country where fieldwork occurs.
- Proposals must focus on wild animal welfare science, not merely conservation or basic ecological research.
Please note that projects that centre solely on conservation without addressing animal welfare are not eligible for funding.
Areas of Research Focus
The Wild Animal Initiative encourages proposals that address a wide range of welfare-related topics, including (but not limited to):
- Welfare indicator validation
- Interspecific interactions
- Population dynamics and welfare outcomes
- Cause-specific mortality studies
- Landscape ecology and welfare implications
- Cascade effects in ecosystems
- Welfare interventions and impact assessments
- Juvenile welfare studies
- Fish and invertebrate welfare research
Researchers are encouraged to design projects that advance measurable understanding of welfare across different taxa and environments.
Application Process
The application process for the Wild Animal Initiative Challenge Grants 2025 consists of two stages:
- Expression of Interest (EOI):
Applicants must first submit an EOI by 14 November 2025. - Full Proposal:
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal after review.
Additionally, if applicants indicate interest in the WAI Fellowship (for postdoctoral or PhD-level researchers), this will be considered during the invitation stage.
Selection and Funding Priorities
Wild Animal Initiative places emphasis on:
- Scientific merit and methodological rigour
- Novelty and potential impact of the proposed research
- Collaborative diversity, especially inclusion of local experts in field sites
- Cost-effectiveness – if two proposals are equal in merit, the grant may favour the one with lower budget
Projects that clearly define welfare measures — such as behavioural, physiological, or biomarker indicators — will receive particular consideration.
Why Apply for the Wild Animal Initiative Challenge Grants 2025?
This grant provides a unique opportunity for researchers and institutions passionate about understanding and improving the welfare of wild animals. It supports multi-year, collaborative, and field-based studies that can shape future directions in animal welfare science.
By applying, you join a growing global network of scientists dedicated to building a robust evidence base for the welfare of free-living animals.
Important Dates
- EOI Deadline: 14 November 2025
- Grant Duration: Up to 5 years
- Funding Amount: USD 50,000 – 100,000
How to Apply
Interested researchers and institutions are encouraged to submit their Expression of Interest by the deadline.
👉 Read more about the programme
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