Global sports industry holds untapped potential for wildlife conservation
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 22-Dec-2025 10:11 ET (22-Dec-2025 15:11 GMT/UTC)
A recently published article (https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf181) in the journal BioScience has revealed a surprising opportunity for conserving threatened species: sports teams and their branding.
The research, led by Dr. Ugo Arbieu of Université Paris-Saclay in France, analyzed 727 sporting organizations across 50 countries and 10 team sports. The authors found that "threatened species and species with a declining population trend are more represented than other species, with differences across regions."
A new international study reveals that nearly 25% of professional sports teams worldwide use a wild animal in its name, logo, or fan identity, presenting a powerful and largely untapped opportunity to support biodiversity conservation. The researchers argue that sport organisations could actively support conservation for their chosen mascot through awareness campaigns, partnerships with NGOs, and funding for habitat protection.
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