Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control

What Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control does

The Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control (BIWFC) is a non-profit research and education institute headquartered in Media, Pennsylvania, and operating as a programmatic initiative of the Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation. Founded to advance reproductive management as part of an integrated approach to mitigating human-wildlife conflicts, the institute does not develop or sell contraceptives itself; instead, it curates and disseminates evidence-based information on existing wildlife fertility control methods, including immunocontraceptive vaccines (PZP, GnRH-based), oral contraceptives (nicarbazin, VCD, triptolide, EP-1), and surgical sterilization. Its core deliverables are educational content (webinars, fact sheets, videos, journal articles), an interactive world map of global projects, a quarterly newsletter, grants for wildlife fertility control projects, and an annual Summer School delivered with university partners.

BIWFC serves wildlife management professionals, academic researchers, zoo biologists (via coordination of the EAZA Contraception Database holding 56,000+ records), policymakers, and non-governmental conservation organizations across more than 20 countries. Documented use cases include PZP immunocontraception of over 1,000 elephants across 32 South African game reserves, Nicarbazin-based pigeon management that achieved a 55.26% reduction in Barcelona, SpayVac trials in Bavarian red deer, and contraceptive rodent management programs in Tanzania and Asia. The institute is led by a small staff with Director of Europe Giovanna Massei (25 years of research, ~150 publications) and Senior Associate Jens Jacob, with advisory leadership from senior wildlife policy figures at The Humane Society of the United States.

BIWFC's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: it operates as a free knowledge hub funded primarily by the Botstiber Foundation, supplemented by project-specific grants. A wholly-owned European subsidiary (BIWFC Europe, established 2021 in the UK) extends its reach to European stakeholders, and strategic alliances with the University of York, Autonomous University of Barcelona, EAZA, the UK Squirrel Accord (45+ organizations), and Humane Society International/Africa anchor its global influence. Commercial product revenue is absent; all resources, webinars, and educational materials are provided without charge.

Name

Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control

Legal name

Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control

Website

https://wildlifefertilitycontrol.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Non-profit knowledge hub that advances wildlife fertility control through education, outreach, grants, and an annual Summer School, serving wildlife managers, researchers, policymakers, and zoos globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wildlife Conservation Education

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (11521)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Health Policy, Standards & International Coordination (e.g., WOAH/FAO) (HLAMAJAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Veterinary Public Health, Biosecurity & Disease Control Services (AFAEANAI)

Keywords

• Wildlife fertility control
• Conservation education
• Wildlife population management
• Non-lethal wildlife control
• Reproductive biology research

Headquarters

HQ city

Media

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Foundation Funding: The BIWFC is an institute of the Botstiber Foundation (Dietrich W. Botstiber Foundation), which provides primary operational funding. The foundation also funds video production, research initiatives, and educational programs.
2. Grants and Project Funding: BIWFC administers grants for wildlife fertility control projects globally and receives project-specific funding from various organizations including universities and conservation bodies.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control (BIWFC) is a non-profit research and education institute that advances wildlife fertility control as part of integrated human-wildlife conflict mitigation. It operates as a global knowledge hub delivering educational programs (annual summer school), a comprehensive resource library with species-specific materials, quarterly newsletters, webinars, fact sheets, and grants for wildlife fertility control projects.

Product overview

The Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control (BIWFC) is a research and education institute focused on advancing reproductive management as part of an integrated approach to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts worldwide. The organization operates through its headquarters and a Europe office, offering educational programs such as the annual Summer School in collaboration with universities, quarterly newsletters, an interactive world map of projects, and a comprehensive resource library. The resource library includes webinars, information sheets, and videos covering various wildlife fertility control methods and their applications across multiple species including wild boar, deer, rodents, wild horses, burros, birds, kangaroos, primates, and elephants. Key documented protocols include the Nicarbazin-based feral pigeon management (Barcelona experience achieving 55.26% population reduction) and contraceptive hormone research for rodents. The Institute also publishes fact sheets on registered contraceptive products including PZP-22, ContraPest, OvoControl, and EP-1.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wildlife Fertility Control Summer School Program Annual intensive summer school examining fertility control within wildlife management, conservation ethics, policy, and human-wildlife conflict, delivered in collaboration with universities for international students and researchers.
• BIWFC Quarterly Newsletter Quarterly e-newsletter with institute updates, important events in the wildlife fertility control field, and professional profiles, distributed to wildlife management professionals globally.
• Interactive World Map of Wildlife Fertility Control Projects Interactive online map showing where wildlife fertility control projects are being implemented worldwide, including target species, project focus, and contact information for each initiative.
• BIWFC Resource Library Comprehensive collection of resources organized by species including videos, webinars, information sheets, and FAQs covering wildlife fertility control methods for species including wild boar, deer, rodents, wild horses, burros, birds, kangaroos, and primates.
• Grants Program for Wildlife Fertility Control Projects BIWFC administers grants funding wildlife fertility control projects globally, supporting research and applied field projects that advance non-lethal wildlife population management.

Quantifiable outcome

• Barcelona pigeon population reduced by 55.26% using Nicarbazin over 3 years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025BIWFC collaborates with UAB on the annual Wildlife Fertility Control Summer School program, delivered in Barcelona. The partnership brings together students from multiple countries for intensive training in human-wildlife coexistence and fertility control methods.
• UK Squirrel AccordmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021BIWFC participates in the UK Squirrel Accord, a partnership of 45+ organizations working to protect red squirrels from invasive grey squirrels. BIWFC contributes expertise on fertility control as a management tool for grey squirrel populations.
• University of YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Giovanna Massei serves as Director of BIWFC Europe while also holding a professorship at the University of York. The university supports collaborative research projects and international workshops on wildlife management.
• EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIWFC-affiliated researchers coordinate the EAZA Reproductive Management Group and manage the Contraception Database containing over 56,000 records of contraceptive use in zoos worldwide.
• Natural Resources Institute, University of GreenwichmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Steven Belmain leads rodent management research at the Natural Resources Institute. His work on contraceptive hormones for rodents was recognized with a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2019 and has influenced international rodent management guidelines.
• Humane Society International/AfricamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIWFC collaborates with HSI-Africa on elephant immunocontraception programs. HSI-Africa's African Elephant Immuno-contraception Program has treated over 1,000 elephants across 32 game reserves in South Africa using PZP.
• University of SassariminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Antonio Varcasia from the University of Sassari contributes expertise in parasitology and wildlife diseases, supporting BIWFC's One Health approach to wildlife fertility control.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Science and Conservation Center: A Montana-based nonprofit that originated and supplies PZP immunocontraceptive vaccines used in wildlife fertility control. Directly comparable to BIWFC as both operate as mission-driven organizations advancing fertility control tools and techniques for wildlife population management.
• EAZA Reproductive Management Group: European Association of Zoos and Aquaria group managing contraception recommendations and the Contraception Database that BIWFC-affiliated researchers coordinate. Operates in the same wildlife contraception field with overlapping zoo and wildlife population management activities.
• Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich: U.K. research institute leading rodent contraceptive hormone work that informs BIWFC resources. Comparable as an academic research center producing evidence-based wildlife fertility control science, particularly for rodent management.

Others

• The Wildlife Society: International association of wildlife professionals producing evidence-based management guidance. Comparable as an organization that shapes wildlife management practitioner knowledge, though focused broadly across wildlife biology rather than fertility control specifically.
• Humane Society International: Global animal welfare organization that partners with BIWFC on field programs such as the African Elephant Immunocontraception Program. Comparable as an animal welfare-focused organization advancing non-lethal wildlife management, though broader in scope.
• The Humane Society of the United States: U.S. animal welfare organization whose Wildlife Protection Department is led by BIWFC's Advisory Committee Chair. Compares as a mission-aligned nonprofit advocating humane wildlife conflict mitigation, though operating at a much larger scale and broader scope.
• Defenders of Wildlife: U.S. wildlife conservation organization that engages on wildlife conflict and policy. Comparable as a conservation advocacy nonprofit, though its activities span habitat protection, policy, and litigation beyond the fertility control niche.
• UK Squirrel Accord: Partnership of 45+ organizations working to protect red squirrels, where BIWFC contributes fertility control expertise. Comparable as a multi-stakeholder initiative pursuing wildlife population management outcomes via collaborative non-lethal methods.

Broad incumbents

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Global conservation authority that produces species conservation guidelines including fertility control considerations. Comparable as an international body shaping wildlife management policy, though its mandate spans the full biodiversity conservation agenda.
• USDA APHIS Wildlife Services: U.S. federal agency that conducts wildlife damage management including fertility control research. Comparable as a major institutional actor in wildlife population management, though its mandate is broader than BIWFC's fertility control focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BotstiberIWFC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=uk+squirrel+accord
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biwfc
• Instagraminstagram.com/squirrelaccord
• Facebookfacebook.com/wildlifefertilitycontrol

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control