NATALIA BORREGO, PhD
Behavioral Ecologist · Wildlife Ecologist
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior · University of Konstanz · University of Minnesota Lion Center
nborrego@ab.mpg.de · ORCID 0000-0002-8859-571X

Research Areas

behavioral ecology · animal behavior · collective behavior · evolutionary ecology · wildlife ecology · sensory ecology

Academic & Research Appointments

2025–present
ZENiT Research Fellow
Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz
2022–present
Project Leader
Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behavior, University of Konstanz
2021–present
Co-Principal Investigator & Postdoctoral Researcher
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior, Department for the Ecology of Animal Societies
2016–present
Research Associate
Lion Research Center, University of Minnesota
2018–2021
Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at the rank of Assistant Professor
Department of Biology, American University in Cairo
2017–2019
Affiliated Faculty
Animal Behavior and Conservation Program, Hunter College, CUNY
2017–2018
Visiting Assistant Professor
Department of Natural Sciences, Baruch College, CUNY
2017–2018
Research Associate
School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal
2016–2017
Postdoctoral Scholar
School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal

Education

2016
PhD, Biology · University of Miami
Dissertation: Cognitive complexity in Carnivora: The evolutionary link between social complexity and cognitive complexity
2011
MSc, Environmental Science · Florida Gulf Coast University
Thesis: Mercury accumulation in South Florida Blackbirds
2005
BSc, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation · University of Florida

Research Methods & Field Expertise

Field & behavioral methods: direct observation · experimental behavior & cognition · Indigenous tracking · wildlife capture collaboration · long-term field monitoring · whole-group biologging
Biologging & sensing: GPS telemetry · accelerometry · magnetometry · collar-mounted acoustic monitoring · bioacoustics
Quantitative analysis & software: Parametric and non-parametric statistics · generalized linear and mixed-effects models · QGIS · R · JMP · SPSS · AUDACITY · KALEIDOSCOPE

Research Funding & Fellowships

2025
ZENiT Award · Zukunftskolleg, University of Konstanz · Co-PI
€87,000
2022
CASCB Newcomer Grant · University of Konstanz · Co-PI
€305,978
2021
Collaborative Research Grant · MPI-AB / University of Konstanz · Co-PI
€146,728 + salary
2022
CASCB Small Grant · PI
€9,500
2019–2021
American University in Cairo Research Support Grant · PI
$6,861
2018–2020
National Geographic Council for Exploration Grant · team member
$27,000
2016
Animal Behavior Society Walter Clyde Allee Honorable Mention
$750
2016–2017
University of KwaZulu-Natal Postdoctoral Scholarship
$27,692
2013
University of Miami Dean’s Summer Research Fellowship
$5,000
2012–2014
University of Miami Kushlan Fund
$4,100
2011–2013
NSF Science Made Sensible Fellowship
$60,000
2009–2015
Florida Education Fund McKnight Doctoral Fellowship
$51,000
2009–2011
NIH Initiative for Maximizing Student Development Fellowship
$30,900
2010
University of Miami Jay M. Savage Award in Tropical Biology
$400

Research Leadership & Scientific Collaborations

Scientific Collaborations

Genevieve E. Finerty
MPI-AB / University of Konstanz
African lion behavioral ecology · collective behavior · biologging · comparative field ecology
Margaret C. Crofoot
MPI-AB / University of Konstanz
Collective behavior · social dynamics · biologging · comparative behavioral ecology
Craig Packer
University of Minnesota Lion Center
African lion social ecology · demography · long-term population research
Simon Chamaillé-Jammes
CEFE / CNRS, France
Behavioral and sensory ecology · biologging · quantitative ecology
Matthew Wijers
WildCRU, University of Oxford
African lion behavior · sensory ecology · multisensor biologging · machine learning
Paul-Antoine Libourel
CRNL / CNRS, France
Neurobiology · sensory processing · field neurophysiology

Scientific Collaborations & Research Partnerships

Field, Management & Research Partnerships

Leopard Ecology & Conservation · Botswana
Whole-pride biologging · Long-term lion field research · hunting ecology · Indigenous tracking · field-team training
CyberTracker
Tracking methodology · professional certification support · collaborative training for field partners
Ombonde Research Team / Lion Rangers · Namibia
Desert-adapted lion ecology · Whole-pride biologging · field research · ranger capacity building
Conservancy · Zimbabwe
Whole-pride biologging · behavioral monitoring · comparative lion research
Lion Management Forum of South Africa (LiMF)
Scientific exchange · African lion ecology · evidence-based management

Publications

* equal contribution / co-first author · † joint corresponding author · ‡ student or mentee coauthor

Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

2026
Co-first author · equal contribution
Chakrabarti, S.*†, Finerty, G. E.*†, Borrego, N.*†, Marella, V. N. S. N.‡, Bump, J. K., & Crofoot, M. C. Beyond the Serengeti lion: addressing ecological and systemic biases in behavioural research through horizontal comparison. Animal Behaviour, 235, 123562. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2026.123562
2026
Heydinger, J., Muzuma, U., Hoth-Hanssen, T., Finerty, G. E., Borrego, N., & Beasley, J. C. Bottom-up space use with top-down temporal risk buffering in arid herbivore communities. Ecology and Evolution, 16(1), e72836.
2024
Co-first author · equal contribution
Finerty, G. E.*†, Borrego, N.*†, Alibhai, S. K., Jewell, Z. C., Tschanz, P., Balone, T.‡, Gabaikanye, T., Gana, M., Monnaanoka, S., Mamou, M., Pudidaroma, S., Tshiama, M., Tshiama, M., Araldi, A., Crofoot, M. C., Henley, S., Ithuteng, P. A., & Schiess-Meier, M. The crossroads of tradition and modern technology: integrative approaches to studying carnivores in low density ecosystems. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 5, 1402500. doi:10.3389/fcosc.2024.1402500
2024
Conquet, E., Paniw, M., Borrego, N., Nater, C. R., Packer, C., & Ozgul, A. Multifaceted density dependence: social structure and seasonality effects on Serengeti lion demography. Journal of Animal Ecology, 93(10), 1493–1509. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.14158
2023
Williams, H. J., Sridhar, V. H., Hurme, E., Gall, G. E., Borrego, N., Finerty, G. E., Couzin, I. D., Galizia, C. G., Dominy, N. J., Rowland, H. M., & Hauber, M. E. Sensory collectives in natural systems. eLife, 12, e88028. doi:10.7554/eLife.88028
2022
O’Connor, V.‡, Chase, S., Chodorow, M., & Borrego, N. Exploring innovation and behavioral flexibility in African lions (Panthera leo) and snow leopards (Panthera uncia). Behavioural Processes, 199, 104648. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2022.104648
2022
Burkhart, J. C., Gupta, S., Borrego, N., Heilbronner, S., & Packer, C. Oxytocin increases prosocial behavior in groups of African lions. iScience, 25, 104049. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.104049
2020
Borrego, N. Socially tolerant lions (Panthera leo) solve a novel cooperative problem. Animal Cognition, 23, 327–336. doi:10.1007/s10071-019-01336-4
2019
McEvoy, O., Miller, S. M., Beets, W., Borrego, N., Burger, A., Courtenay, B., Ferreira, S., Hanekom, C., Hofmeyr, M., Packer, C., Robertson, D., Stratford, K., Slotow, R., & Parker, D. M. Use of contraceptive techniques as management tools to mimic natural reproductive rates in managed African lions (Panthera leo). Wildlife Research, 46, 398–408. doi:10.1071/WR18079
2018
Borrego, N., Ozgul, A., Slotow, R., & Packer, C. Lion population dynamics: do nomadic males matter? Behavioral Ecology, 29, 660–666. doi:10.1093/beheco/ary018
2017
Borrego, N. Big cats as a model system for the study of the evolution of intelligence. Behavioural Processes. doi:10.1016/j.beproc.2017.03.010
2016
Borrego, N. & Dowling, B. Lions (Panthera leo) solve, learn, and remember a novel resource acquisition problem. Animal Cognition, 19(5), 1019–1025. doi:10.1007/s10071-016-1009-y
2016
Borrego, N. & Gaines, M. Social carnivores outperform asocial carnivores on an innovative problem. Animal Behaviour, 114, 21–26. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.01.013
2008
Borrego, N., Ozgul, A., Armitage, K. B., Blumstein, D. T., & Oli, M. K. Spatiotemporal variation in survival of male yellow-bellied marmots. Journal of Mammalogy, 89, 365–373. doi:10.1644/07-MAMM-A-061R1.1

Other Scholarly Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Conference Proceedings

2026
VMV 2026 proceedings paper — accepted for open-access publication and presentation at VMV 2026, Siegen, Germany, 22–25 September 2026. Full camera-ready citation to be inserted when final title and author list are available.
2025
Co-first author · equal contribution
Borrego, N.*†, Finerty, G. E.*†, Balone, T.‡, Gabaikanye, T., Gana, M., Monnaanoka, S., Mamou, M., Pudidaroma, S., Tshiama, M., Tshiama, M., Araldi, A., Crofoot, M. C., Henley, S., Ithuteng, P., & Schiess-Meier, M. Beyond observation: Indigenous tracking explores complex lion behaviour in challenging environments. African Journal of Wildlife Research, 55, 405. doi:10.3957/056.055.0405

Manuscripts Under Review

2026
Heydinger, J., Muzuma, U., Finerty, G. E., Borrego, N., Horth-Hanssen, T., & Beasley, J. Prey availability and reproductive demands organize space use across temporal scales in desert-adapted lions. Under review at Movement Ecology.
2026
Slania, N. E., Demartsev, V., Bousquet, C., Borrego, N., Berthet, M., Strandburg-Peshkin, A., Reina, A., Chaverri, G., Chimento, M., Finerty, G. E., Kohles, J. E., Montgomery, T. M., Razik, I., van der Veer, A. H., & Gall, G. E. C. Proto-gossip: investigating precursors to human gossip in nonhuman animals. Submitted to Biological Reviews.

Book Chapters & Public-Facing Scholarly Writing

2025
Borrego, N. The most charismatic of cats. In The Last Lions. Smithsonian Books, pp. 44–55.
2023
Palmer, M. S., Borrego, N., & Packer, C. Social strategies of the African lion. In Social Strategies of Carnivorous Mammalian Predators: Hunting and Surviving as Families. Springer International Publishing, pp. 7–45.

Technical & Professional Publications

2018
Miller, S. M., Ferreira, S., Kilian, H., Parker, D., Courtenay, B., Hanekom, C., & Borrego, N. Reintroduction, genetic management and genetic rescue of lion populations. In IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group, Guidelines for the Conservation of Lions in Africa, Version 1.0, p. 111.

Invited Talks & Conference Presentations

Invited Talks, Symposia & Panels

2026
Borrego, N., Chakrabarti, S., & Finerty, G. E. Beyond Model Systems: Addressing ecological and systemic biases in behavioural research. FINE (Frontiers in Social Evolution) seminar series.
2025
Chakrabarti, S., Borrego, N., & Finerty, G. E. Understanding lion societies: The role of comparative research. Symposium speaker and panelist, Behaviour 2025: XXXVIII International Ethological Congress.
2025
Borrego, N. Big Cats, Bigger Questions: Proximate and ultimate drivers of behavior. Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig.
2025
Borrego, N. & Finerty, G. E. Dynamic Behaviors, Dynamic Landscapes: Flexibility and adaptation in lion behavior. Human-Carnivore Co-Adaptation Workshop, University of Cologne, Kasane, Botswana.
2021
Borrego, N. Thinking like a lion: an adventure in animal research. MaxCine Science Goes Public, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior.

Contributed Presentations

2026
Borrego, N. Why Lions Hunt Alone: New Perspectives on Social Carnivores. Savannah Science Network Meeting.
2025
Borrego, N. & Finerty, G. E. Beyond observation: emerging technologies unlock new frontiers in lion behavioral ecology. South African Wildlife Management Association.
2024
Borrego, N. & Finerty, G. E. The crossroads of tradition and modern technology. South African Wildlife Management Association.
2024
Borrego, N. & Finerty, G. E. Pride & Seek — tracking African lion behavior. Savannah Science Network Meeting. [Poster]
2024
Borrego, N. & Finerty, G. E. The crossroads of tradition and technology. ASAB Winter Meeting, Edinburgh.
2024
Borrego, N., Chakrabarti, S., & Finerty, G. E. Building bridges from boxes: The role of under-studied populations in expanding the horizons of animal behavior. ASAB Winter Meeting, Edinburgh.

Research Supervision & Mentorship

2026
Candice Bazin · MSc research, Sorbonne Paris Nord University
Hunting in complex landscapes: fine-scale analysis of lion hunting adaptations to vegetation cover using traditional and modern tools
Outcome: graduated first in her cohort with the highest thesis grade.
2023–present
Niharika Marella · Project intern and guest affiliate, Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Geographic bias in lion field research and comparative behavioral ecology.
Outcome: coauthor, Animal Behaviour (2026); now leading independent first-author work.
2024–2025
Katja Regan · BSc Honors, University of Konstanz
How does habitat diversity shape lion behavior in high-density systems?
2024–2025
Anna Greszki · BSc Honors, University of Konstanz
Investigating the influence of temporal and spatial abiotic drivers on the behavior of male lions
2024–2025
Luisa Ketterer · BSc Honors, University of Konstanz
The influence of home range and neighbor dynamics on territorial behavior in lions
2019–present
Samar El Sayad · MSc, Beni-Suef University, Cairo
Behavioral and biochemical studies of captive big cats in Egypt
2017–2019
Victoria L. O’Connor · MA, Hunter College, CUNY
Exploring innovation and behavioral flexibility in African lions and snow leopards
Outcome: conference presentations and O’Connor et al. (2022), Behavioural Processes; continued to doctoral research, with Borrego later serving on her doctoral advisory committee.

Selected Student & Mentee Research Presentations

2026
Balone, T., Adler, K., Araldi, A., Borrego, N., Packer, C., Wjiers, M., & Finerty, G. E. Foraging behavioral shifts of lions at the interface of reserve and cattle-post landscapes. Savanna Science Network Meeting.
2020
O’Connor, V., Borrego, N., & Vonk, J. Exploring innovation and behavioral flexibility in jaguars, Amur leopards and clouded leopards. Annual Meeting of the Animal Behavior Society.
2019
O’Connor, V., Chase, S., Thomas, P., & Borrego, N. Exploring problem-solving and innovation in snow leopards. 56th Annual Meeting of the Animal Behaviour Society and 26th International Conference on Comparative Cognition.

University Teaching Experience

2018–2021
American University in Cairo · Postdoctoral Teaching Fellow at the rank of Assistant Professor
  • Scientific Thinking: Animal Behavior
  • Scientific Thinking: Evolution
2017–2018
Baruch College, City University of New York · Visiting Assistant Professor
  • Fundamentals of Ecological Research — lecture and laboratory
  • Conservation Biology and Sustainable Development — lecture and laboratory
2014–2016
University of Miami · Teaching Assistant
  • Evolution and Biodiversity Laboratory
2007–2009
Florida Gulf Coast University · Adjunct Instructor
  • Biology II Laboratory

Research Mentorship & Capacity Building

2024–2026
Mentor, African Research Talents Experiencing Mentoring in Science (ARTEMIS)
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Mentorship of early-career African researchers developing independent projects and research careers.
2023–present
Uakendisa Muzuma · ARTEMIS mentee
Spatial ecology of the human–lion interface in arid north-western conservancies, Kunene Region, Namibia; hosted for the 2025 Zukunftskolleg ZUKOnnect Fellowship.
2025-present
Joshua Overmeyer · ARTEMIS mentee
Variation in leopard density and activity across a multi-use landscape in the Western Cape, South Africa.
ongoing
Trevor Balone · Leopard Ecology & Conservation, Botswana
Long-term field research assistant and mentee in the Kalahari lion research program.
Outcomes: coauthor on 2024 and 2025 peer-reviewed publications; presented KSI research at the 5th Botswana Biodiversity Symposium; earned professional certifications and gained acceptance into the University of Oxford’s postgraduate diploma program.
2018–present
CyberTracker / LEC tracking-team capacity building
Supported CyberTracker training workshops for the Botswana tracking team, initially through the National Geographic Council for Exploration project and subsequently through the Collaborative Research Grant.
2022–present
Lion Rangers capacity building, Namibia
Co-hosted SMART training for Lion Rangers through the CASCB Newcomer Grant.

Professional & Academic Service

Graduate Examination & Advisory Service

2024
Doctoral Advisory Committee Member · Oakland University
Victoria L. O’Connor, DSc Psychology. Exploring Innovation and Behavioral Flexibility in Captive Carnivores.
2019
MSc Thesis Examiner · Beni-Suef University
Shimaa Husien Mohamed Abd-elwhab. Using of algal free cells, treated and biofilms for industrial wastewater treatment.
2017–2020
PhD Committee Member · University of KwaZulu-Natal / Leopard Ecology & Conservation
Kietumetse Ngaka. Thesis topic: lion predation in extreme environments.

Professional Scientific Service

Ongoing
Peer Reviewer
International journals in behavioral ecology, animal behavior, conservation, and wildlife science.
Current
Scientific Member · Lion Management Forum of South Africa (LiMF)
Scientific exchange on African lion ecology and evidence-based management.

Scientific Leadership & Collaborative Working Groups

2026
Co-host, Sensory Ecology Workshop
Zukunftskolleg / University of Konstanz
ZENiT-supported interdisciplinary workshop bringing together collaborators and external expertise to develop approaches for studying sensory mechanisms underlying animal behavior.
2026
Comparative Animal Gossip Working Group
Participated in interdisciplinary workshop and manuscript development; resulting synthesis manuscript is under review at Biological Reviews.
2024
Co-host, Comparative Lion Behaviour Workshop
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Co-hosted with Stotra Chakrabarti and Joseph K. Bump to compare lion social systems across populations and develop a horizontal-comparison framework; collaboration culminated in Chakrabarti et al. (2026), Animal Behaviour.
2023
Sensory Collectives Working Group
Participated in interdisciplinary workshop and synthesis collaboration culminating in Williams et al. (2023), eLife.

Institute Seminar Hosting

2026
Host, Sam M. Ferreira Institute Seminar
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Keeping the Wild Working: Predators, Processes, and the Ethics of Intervention. 16 June 2026.
2025
Host, Craig Packer Institute Seminar
Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior
Five decades of research & conservation on African lions. 4 February 2025.

Teaching & Mentorship Development

2024–2026
ARTEMIS mentor development workshops
Cross-cultural mentorship and research capacity building with graduate and early-career researchers from African institutions.
2018–2019
Teaching Advancement Program
American University in Cairo Center for Learning and Teaching
Faculty Institute of Learning and Teaching Immersion Track.
2018
Teaching Enhancement Certificate
American University in Cairo Center for Learning and Teaching

Earlier Educational Outreach & Research Mentoring

2011–2013
NSF Science Made Sensible Fellow / Resident Scientist
Allapattah Middle School and Carol City Middle School, Florida; science engagement and research-based instruction.
2013
Graduate Mentor, Research in Ecology Program · University of Miami / Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Primate Cognition and Behavior Research Group.

Selected Public Scholarship, Science Communication & Media

Featured Scientist & Broadcast

2026
Max Planck Forschung 3/2026 — “Natalia Borrego”. Six-page Besuch bei featured-scientist profile by Nora Lessing.
2024
Animal Minds: What Are They Thinking? — research featured / featured scientist, Orca children’s book.
2021
Animal IQ — presenter and co-host, eight-episode web series, PBS Nature / PBS TerraNova.
2019
Wicked Weasels — TV presenter and scientific consultant, BBC / PBS.
2018
Big Cats — TV presenter and scientific consultant, BBC / PBS.
2015
Killer IQ: Predator Challenge and Killer IQ: Predator Games — TV presenter and scientific consultant, Smithsonian Channel.

Selected Research Coverage & Scientific Consulting

2022
Smithsonian Magazine — research coverage on oxytocin and lion social behavior.
2021
BBC, Chris Packham’s Animal Einsteins, Episode 4 “Social Networkers” — research featured.
2020
Earth at Night — scientific consultant for African lion episode, Apple TV+ / Offspring Films.
2018
National Geographic Online News — scientific consultant, “Do Big Cats Get Hairballs?”
2016
Scientific American — press coverage, “Lions are the brainiest of the Big Cats.”
2016
Science — press coverage, “Good social skills make animals smarter.”
2021
Wildscreen Network Festival — panelist, “Understanding Science Communication when Filming/Photographing Wildlife.”