Feral cats (Felis catus) impact on the health and welfare of wildlife, livestock and humans worldwide. Our study compared feral cat abundance between Kangaroo Island and the adjacent Australian mainland, estimated through simultaneous standardised methods, and found that abundance was over 10 times greater on the island. Our findings show that the actual densities of cats at local sites can vary substantially from predictions generated by continental-scale models. The study also demonstrates the value of estimating density simultaneously across sites using standardised methods. Photograph by Patrick Taggart.

Although the Southwest China serow is a threatened species and in significant decline throughout its range, this species has been rarely studied. The present study aimed to understand the environmental factors influencing the occurrence probability of the species through applying an integrated modelling approach, and showed that hunting pressure has forced serows to inhabit areas where they are well protected, over-riding the effect of ecological variables. An integrated conservation intervention should be urgently conducted to save this threatened species from local extirpation. Photograph by Thuc Phan.

African lion growth rates in smaller fenced protected areas are managed to prevent overpopulation. Using historical data, we found that deslorelin implants were more effective at reducing reproductive output than unilateral hysterectomy surgery. However, there were some undesirable side-effects associated with the implants. These findings advance the lion management practices on small fenced reserves; habitats that are becoming more valuable as larger lion populations are threatened across Africa. Photograph by Susan M. Miller.

We analysed the diet of Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata) in Sicily (Italy) during the breeding season between 2011 and 2017 and compared with data collected between 1993 and 1998 in the same study area. Birds and mammals were the most important prey in terms of frequency and biomass respectively. We found significant differences in diet composition between periods, probably owing to a generalised decrease in the availability of wild rabbits. Considering the critical status of Bonelli’s eagle in Italy, measures aimed at increasing populations of its main prey should be promoted. Photograph by Pascual López-López.

A well supported network of wildlife carers is vital for the recovery of injured or orphaned wildlife. Using a large database of injured and orphaned wildlife reports, we highlight the frequency of species needing care and the types of human–wildlife interactions they experience. This information can assist in allocating resources, training or recruiting additional volunteers, tracking emerging issues, and planning public education initiatives. Photograph by Houndstooth Studios.

Not all individuals have equal success or survival when they are moved to a new place. Ideally, if we can screen animals through their behavioural responses to being trapped and handled, we could increase translocation success. Heart rate lability and escape behaviour – reflecting reactivity and fearfulness – show some promise in predicting post-translocation body mass-gain in woylies, a critically endangered marsupial species. Photograph by Kimberley Page.

Some of Australia’s threatened mammal fauna once had large distributions that covered arid, semiarid and temperate habitats. Our study sought to determine whether one of these previously widespread species, the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), can adapt its reproductive strategy in different environments. We found a seasonal breeding pattern in two free-ranging temperate populations of bilbies; we also found indications that female body size plays a role in fecundity. Our study suggests the bilby can adapt its reproductive strategy to suit local conditions. Cessation of breeding in autumn, as observed in this study, has also been observed in other bandicoot species in southern Australia. Photograph by Karleah Berris.