https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:5402 Tourism infrastructure and physiological stress in free-ranging impalas (Aepyceros melampus) of Serengeti National Park Kessy, Beatrice Modest Beatrice Modest Kessy 0000-0003-3442-121X Arukwe, Augustine Augustine Arukwe Mbise, Franco Peniel Franco Peniel Mbise Hariohay, Kwaslema Malle Kwaslema Malle Hariohay Palme, Rupert Rupert Palme 0000-0001-9466-3662 University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. Centre of Biological Sciences Røskaft, Eivin Eivin Røskaft Ranke, Peter Sjolte Peter Sjolte Ranke Elsevier journal article open access eng In the developing world, many protected areas (PAs) rely on tourism as a viable source of financial resources for conservation. However, the drive to maximise revenue has led to an increase in tourist numbers and infrastructure developments that often exceed ecological capacity, creating challenges for biodiversity and wildlife populations. To evaluate potential physiological impacts of tourism infrastructure and environmental factors, we measured faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FGMs), an established indicator of stress in animals, using a validated enzyme immunoassay (EIA). We analysed FGMs from 213 impala (Aepyceros melampus) faecal samples collected in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, between January and February 2025. Our results showed that impalas near lodges exhibited significantly higher FGM levels even without tourist occupancy (i.e., infrastructure), than those near permanent tented camps or seasonal campsites. These findings suggest that large-scale tourism infrastructure is associated with elevated stress in impalas. Future research should focus on identifying the specific features of large tourist facilities that drive physiological stress in wildlife, to better inform tourism development and conservation strategies in PAs.Accommodation facilities Accommodation Facilities Conservation Faecal Cortisol Metabolites Protected Areas Sustainable Management Tanzania http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/api/object/o:5402/download 10.1016/j.gecco.2026.e04130 https://phaidra.vetmeduni.ac.at/o:605 application/pdf Global Ecology and Conservation issn:2351-9894 VoR Global Ecology and Conservation 67 991.84 kB 2026