Fact-Checking Policy

Last updated: July 4, 2026

1. Why it matters

Misinformation about wildlife fuels fear, bad policy and harm to species. Our fact-checking process exists to make sure what you read here is right.

2. The process

1. Drafting — writers record a source for every factual claim: species traits, ranges, population numbers, IUCN statuses, dates and quotes.
2. Verification — an editor independently checks each claim against primary sources (journals, IUCN Red List, museum and university references, park authorities).
3. Review — numbers, units and scientific names are re-checked at copy-edit; statistics older than five years are flagged for refresh.
4. Publication — only articles that pass all checks go live.

3. Source hierarchy

• Peer-reviewed journals and systematic reviews.
• IUCN Red List assessments and CITES documentation.
• Government, park and museum publications.
• Reputable science media and named expert interviews (used with corroboration).

4. Ratings and uncertainty

Where science is unsettled we say so. Estimates are presented as estimates, with ranges rather than false precision.

5. Corrections

If a factual error slips through, we correct the article promptly and add a correction note for significant changes. Readers can report suspected errors to mclean@wildlifeuniverse.org — please include the article title and the claim in question.