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These articles are the latest published in the journal. Wildlife Research is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 21 February 2025

WR24088Exploring the human dimensions of gharial conservation in the Mahanadi River, India

Laxmi Prasad Rath , Suraj Kumar Dash , Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra , Aliva Patnaik, Ashaharraza Khan and Sudarsan Maharana

 

Critically endangered gharials found in the Mahanadi River are on the brink of extirpation which demands urgent conservation efforts for its survival. This study examines the dependencies of local people on the Mahanadi River and their perception of gharials. Despite living with gharials for years, people are still unaware of their ecological role and perceive them as a threat, similar to other crocodile; therefore, awareness on gharial ecology among the local riverside residents near critical gharial habitats may be useful for gharial conservation. Photograph by Ashaharraza Khan.

WR24088 Abstract  | PDF (1.4 MB) - $35.00   | WR24088Supplementary Material (340 KB)

Published online 13 February 2025

WR24103Wildfire in rainforest margins is associated with variation in mammal diversity and habitat use

Rhiannon R. Bird , Rebeka R. Zsoldos, Martha V. Jimenez Sandoval, Shania J. Watson and Annabel L. Smith

 

Global increases in wildfires are making rainforests vulnerable to fire, especially at the margins. We found that fire in rainforest margins was associated with lower mammal diversity than in unburnt rainforest, and caused variation in how rainforest-associated species used habitat. Fire in sclerophyll vegetation surrounding rainforests was associated with reduced probability of movement of a generalist mammal species at low elevations. Mammals in rainforest margins had modified habitat use and behaviour 15 months post-fire, indicating that rainforest margins need to be protected from increasing wildfires. Photograph by Rhiannon Bird.

WR24103 Abstract  |  WR24103 Full Text  | WR24103PDF (991 KB)  | WR24103Supplementary Material (428 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 13 February 2025

WR24076The relationship between the presence of people, fire patterns and persistence of two threatened species in the Great Sandy Desert

Rachel Paltridge , Yalti Napangati, Yukultji Ward, Johnny Nangagee, Mantua James, Raymond Olodoodi, Nanyuma Napangati, Stephen Eldridge, Andrew Schubert, Edward Blackwood and Sarah Legge

 

Kiwirrkurra Traditional Owners use fire as an important tool to assist the harvest of bush meats and promote growth of favoured food plants. Forty years of firescar mapping across managed and unmanaged areas of Kiwirrkurra country show that where traditional burning has been maintained, populations of threatened species (bilby and great desert skink) have persisted, while disappearing from the surrounding landscape.

Pintupi summary: Yanangu Kiwirrkurra tjana kututja waru kutjani panya kukaku an yukiri mangarri puutjinuku yurrunpa tjintu nganti yarra-paluda yirrititja tjutangku. 40 yiya panya waru yilkarri katunguru nintini Ninu anta Tjalapaku yaaltji-wana Yanangu tjutangku yankula kuka an warukitjangkulpi nyanganyi ngurra Tjalapaku.

Photograph by Kiwirrkurra Indigenous Protected Area.

This article belongs to the collection: Indigenous and cross-cultural wildlife research in Australia.

WR24076 Abstract  |  WR24076 Full Text  | WR24076PDF (3.6 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 13 February 2025

WR24032Behavioural responses of Australian lizards towards visual cues of feral cats

Owen T. Lishmund , Dale G. Nimmo and Tim S. Doherty

 

Feral cats pose a significant threat to native fauna across the globe, with Australia being particularly affected. We examined the behavioural reactions of two Australian lizard species to the visual cues from a model cat and found that the lizards showed little response. We recommend further testing of reptile responses towards cat sensory cues to deepen understanding of how reptiles respond to the threat of cat predation. Photograph by Owen Lishmund.

WR24032 Abstract  |  WR24032 Full Text  | WR24032PDF (2.6 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 11 February 2025

WR23091A multi-modal approach to enhance Toxoplasma gondii detection in the Australian landscape

Amanda Jane Breidahl , Michael Lynch, Duncan R. Sutherland, Rebecca Traub and Jasmin Hufschmid

 

Information about environmental contamination with Toxoplasma gondii can inform management decisions of risk of toxoplasmosis in resident endothermic vertebrates and in potential translocations and re-introductions of endangered species. This work estimated environmental contamination across two different landscapes. Both the landscapes measured had low T. gondii contamination. The results highlighted the potential of using sentinel species (rabbits and mice), target species (bandicoots) and soil analysis to enhance the detection and inform likely exposure of a target species to T. gondii in a defined landscape. Photograph by Amanda Jane Breidahl.

WR23091 Abstract  |  WR23091 Full Text  | WR23091PDF (1.4 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 10 February 2025

WR24012Life in the big smoke: terrestrial vertebrate assemblages and their drivers along an urbanisation gradient in Sydney, Australia

Martín Boer-Cueva , Rhys Cairncross , Mathew S. Crowther , Patrick B. Finnerty, Angela F. Raña, Peter B. Banks and Thomas M. Newsome

 

Urbanisation is rapidly expanding, placing an increasing strain on biodiversity globally. This study assessed how vertebrate species assemblages of northern Sydney vary along an urbanisation gradient and the potential drivers of this variation. We found that as urbanisation increased, fewer native and more invasive species made up the assemblages, highlighting the pervasive impact of habitat modification on fauna in urban areas. Photograph by Martín Boer-Cueva.

WR24012 Abstract  |  WR24012 Full Text  | WR24012PDF (1.2 MB)  | WR24012Supplementary Material (1.1 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 24 January 2025

WR23133Spatio-temporal trends in the abundance of grey kangaroos in Victoria, Australia

Michael P. Scroggie , Paul D. Moloney and David S. L. Ramsey

 

Aerial distance sampling surveys for eastern and western grey kangaroos were conducted across Victoria between 2017 and 2022. Using a model-based approach we were able to infer spatial and temporal trends in abundance across the study area during this period. Grey kangaroo populations generally increased over the course of the study. The model-based approach mostly yielded more precise population estimates than previously used design-based approaches, as well as providing insight into ecological drivers of abundance. Photograph by Justin Cally.

WR23133 Abstract  |  WR23133 Full Text  | WR23133PDF (5.7 MB)  | WR23133Supplementary Material (311 KB)

Published online 21 January 2025

WR24036Species-specific spatial and temporal variability in anuran call detection: implications for deploying autonomous recording units

Andrew Hall , Amelia Walcott, Ali Borrell, Dale G. Nimmo and Skye Wassens

 

Acoustic monitoring with autonomous recording units (ARUs) offers efficient ecosystem assessment, but producing high quality data is challenging. We assessed detection probabilities of five frog species from ten ARUs positioned across a wetland, finding that the degree of spatiotemporal variability in detection varied by species. Our analysis informed ARU deployment requirements for producing reliable species community monitoring data and informed confidence levels when fewer ARUs are deployed. Image by Andrew Hall.

WR24036 Abstract  |  WR24036 Full Text  | WR24036PDF (5.5 MB)  | WR24036Supplementary Material (659 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 20 January 2025

WR24102Estimating feral cat (Felis catus) population density in eastern Australia’s subtropical rainforest using spatial capture-recapture incorporating unidentified individuals

Darren McHugh , Matthijs Hollanders , Sarah Legge and Ben C. Augustine

 

Management of broadly distributed invasive species requires knowledge of population densities across multiple ecosystems. The feral cat has a continental distribution in Australia; however, density estimates from several ecosystems are few or lacking. This study aimed to estimate the feral cat population density within a subtropical rainforest ecosystem. We demonstrated that the feral cat density was unexpectedly high. Our study adds to a growing body of literature that suggests feral cat densities are high in productive mesic reserves of eastern Australia. Image by Darren McHugh.

WR24102 Abstract  |  WR24102 Full Text  | WR24102PDF (2.1 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 17 January 2025

WR24116How the goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) adapts to isolated island: from the perspective of habitat and food

Yuan Wang , Peng Yuan, Chao Liu, Ying Yang, Wenbin Yang, Dazhi Zhang and Guijun Yang

 

With the interference of human activities, the population of the goitered gazelle (Gazella subgutturosa) has greatly declined. This study elucidated the adaptability of the goitered gazelle in small-scale isolated habitats from the perspectives of suitable habitat and diet. We identified the key environmental factors that affect the distribution of goitered gazelle and utilized DNA metabarcoding technology for the first time in the study of their diet. Photograph by Yuan Wang.

WR24116 Abstract  | PDF (1.3 MB) - $35.00   | WR24116Supplementary Material (2.2 MB)

Published online 17 January 2025

WR24175Invasive wild pig carcass availability does not affect coyote abundance in South Carolina, USA

Heather E. Gaya , Gino J. D’Angelo , Mark Vukovich, Jordan L. Youngmann, Stacey L. Lance and John C. Kilgo

 

In the United States, control programs often leave wild pig carcasses on the landscape where they are freely available for consumption by scavengers such as coyotes. This study tested whether coyote abundance is affected by wild pig carcasses created by control programs, and found that coyote abundance did not change in response to wild pig carcass availability. We conclude that wild pig carcass removal will not be an effective coyote management strategy. Photograph by M. Vukovich.

WR24175 Abstract  | PDF (1.6 MB) - $35.00   | WR24175Supplementary Material (495 KB)

Published online 17 January 2025

WR24117Assessing target and non-target species interactions with buried non-toxic meat baits across fire mosaics

Rachel T. Mason , Anthony R. Rendall , Robin D. Sinclair and Euan G. Ritchie

 

1080 baiting is commonly used to manage invasive species and reduce livestock predation, but the potential for some non-target species to be harmed by baiting is not well-understood. We monitored non-toxic baits and found that non-target species, particularly native mice, located and interacted with baits more often and quicker than target predators did. Current baiting practices have the potential to harm non-target species. Optimising baiting methods should be prioritised to minimise undesirable impacts and ensure effective management outcomes are achieved. Image by Rachel Mason.

WR24117 Abstract  |  WR24117 Full Text  | WR24117PDF (1.2 MB)  | WR24117Supplementary Material (714 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 16 January 2025

WR24149Subfossils suggest worse-than-realised losses of small-bodied mammals in northern Australia

Vikram Vakil , Jonathan Cramb, Gilbert Price, Julien Louys, John Stanisic and Gregory E. Webb

 

Examining Australia’s subfossil record can be valuable in assessing whether the current diversity of small-bodied mammals seen across northern Australia is ‘normal’. In this study, we aimed to analyse fossils from cave sites in north-eastern Queensland and showed that local pre-European small-mammal communities were much more diverse than are the region’s extant faunas recorded by modern surveys. We demonstrated that recent losses of small-bodied mammals maybe greater than previously realised, prior to the fauna being documented in the region. Photograph by Vikram Vakil.

WR24149 Abstract  |  WR24149 Full Text  | WR24149PDF (5 MB)  | WR24149Supplementary Material (1.2 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 14 January 2025

WR24170An improved method of capture and immobilisation for medium to large-size macropods

Miguel A. Bedoya-Pérez , Michael J. Lawes, Brett Ottley, Stuart Barker, Esther Tarszisz and Clive R. McMahon

 

Macropods are prone to stress during capture, making the development of capture methods challenging. Currently, the most common methods used are trapping, suited for small macropods, and darting for the larger ones. A modified ‘nylon drop-net’ technique, typically used for African ungulates, was successfully employed to capture 40 agile wallabies with no fatalities during or after the procedure. Photograph by Miguel A. Bedoya-Perez.

WR24170 Abstract  |  WR24170 Full Text  | WR24170PDF (2 MB)  | WR24170Supplementary Material (266 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 14 January 2025

WR24122No evidence of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 infection in scavengers of wild rabbits in Australia

Ina L. Smith , Nina Huang, Megan Pavy, Alexander Gofton, Omid Fahri, Egi Kardia, Roslyn Mourant, Sammi Chong, Maria Jenckel, Robyn N. Hall and Tanja Strive

 

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) 2 causes an often fatal infection in rabbits and hares; however, there are concerns about the host specificity of this virus. We investigated scavengers of rabbits for infection with RHDV2 and found no evidence of productive infections. This study has provided insights into the safety of RHDV2, addressing potential routes of spread and possible reservoir hosts. Photograph by Roslyn Mourant.

WR24122 Abstract  |  WR24122 Full Text  | WR24122PDF (752 KB)   Open Access Article

More content

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

WR24066, Accepted 15 February 2025

Establishing protocols to apply repellents while hazing crop pests: Importance of habitat, flock size, and time on blackbird (Icteridae) responses to a drone capable of spraying

Mallory White, Jessica Duttenhefner and Page Klug

 

WR24066Abstract

WR24108, Accepted 15 February 2025

Monitoring and habitat inferences change with population metric: a case study with mesocarnivores

Andrew Butler , Mairi Poisson, Patrick Tate, Daniel Bergeron and Remington Moll

 

WR24108Abstract

WR24132, Accepted 09 February 2025

Evidence for an ecological two population model for white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Australian waters

Teah Burke , Charlie Huveneers, Lauren Meyer, Jack Hollins, Lisa Loseto, Jonathan Werry and Nigel Hussey

 

WR24132Abstract

WR24107, Accepted 04 February 2025

Purpose-driven approaches to age estimation in Australian Flying-foxes (Pteropus)

Cinthia Pietromonaco , Douglas Kerlin , Peggy Eby, Hamish McCallum, Jennefer Mclean, Linda Collins and Alison Peel

 

WR24107Abstract

WR25010, Accepted 31 January 2025

Editorial – Indigenous and Cross-cultural Wildlife Research in Australia

Jack Pascoe , Marlee Hutton, Sarah Legge , Emilie Ens, Hannah Cliff and Stephen Van Leeuwen

 

WR25010Abstract

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