A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Wildlife Diversity in Global Team Sport Branding




AuthorsArbieu, Ugo; Bellard, Céline; Bradshaw, Corey J A; Correia, Ricardo; Courtois, Pierre; Di Minin, Enrico; Jarić, Ivan; Murfree, Jessica R; Orr, Madeleine; Roturier, Samuel; Sartore-Baldwin, Melanie; Veríssimo, Diogo; Courchamp, Franck

PublisherOxford University Press (OUP)

Publication year2025

Journal: Bioscience

Article numberbiaf181

ISSN0006-3568

eISSN1525-3244

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf181

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingNo Open Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf181


Abstract

Many sport organizations worldwide have capitalized on wildlife iconography to develop their brand. Given the ongoing global biodiversity crisis and the importance of sport in modern societies, representations of wildlife in the sport industry offer enormous potential for shifting social norms, raising funds and promoting biodiversity conservation initiatives within the industry itself. We collected data on professional teams that use wild animals either in their name, logo, or supporters’ nicknames across 50 countries and across 10 team sports. We identified 727 sport organizations using wildlife iconography or nicknames. Mammals and birds are the most represented classes, and lions (Panthera leo), tigers (Panthera tigris), and grey wolves (Canis lupus) are the most frequently selected species. Threatened species and species with a declining population trend are more represented than other species, with differences across regions. This is a critical first step toward integrating biodiversity conservation in the sustainability agenda of sport organizations.


Funding information in the publication
RAC acknowledges personal funding from the Research Council of Finland (grant agreement #348352) and the KONE Foundation (grant agreement #202101976). FC, CB, IJ, PC and SR are funded by their salary as French public servants. EDM acknowledges funding by the European Union (ERC, BIOBANG, 101171602) and the KONE Foundation (grant agreement #202309134).


Last updated on 07/01/2026 10:44:28 AM