Matthias-Claudio Loretto

Matthias-Claudio Loretto is an Assistant Professor at the Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, where he leads the Movement Ecology Group and the Bio-Logging Technology Lab. His research focuses on animal movement patterns and human impacts on wildlife behavior.

His primary research interests include:

• Effects of human activities on animal movement
• Recolonization of large carnivores and its effects across trophic levels
• Influence of anthropogenic food sources on wildlife behaviour
• Ecology and behavioural adaptations of scavenger species
• Use of acceleration data for behaviour classification and energy expenditure estimation
• Development of bio-logging devices and refinement of tag design and attachment methods

Loretto contributes to teaching at the university, starting in the winter semester of 2024 with lectures in Wildlife Biology and expanding in 2025 to include Movement Ecology and Conservation Medicine modules. He has been recognized through prestigious fellowships such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship. His work integrates field ecology with technological innovation in wildlife tracking.

Notable scientific awards:

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow at the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior (2019–2021)

Loretto advises on wildlife research and contributes to academic training through excursions and specialized courses. He has held prior research positions at the Technical University of Munich, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, and the University of Vienna. His career reflects a strong commitment to interdisciplinary wildlife science and conservation.

He leads two key research units at the institute:

• Movement Ecology Group
• Bio-Logging Technology Lab