An upcoming wildlife conference in Queenstown will look at new challenges and solutions to managing pests and protecting native species.
Talks at next week’s Australiasian Wildlife Management Society (AWMS) annual conference cover new research mapping feral cat populations, innovative technologies to support kākāpō recovery, and modelling bovine tuberculosis in possums, among many other topics. Taking place from 2-4 December, the event brings together wildlife management experts from across New Zealand and Australia.
The Science Media Centre asked conference speakers to provide a preview of their talks.
Dr Sze-Wing Yiu, Wildlife Ecologist, Bioeconomy Science Institute, comments:
Note: Dr Yiu’s talk is called “Estimating feral cat population densities and detection probabilities in Aotearoa”.
“Cats are listed by the IUCN as one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. In Australasia, they pose a serious threat to native wildlife. Here in Aotearoa, cats have contributed to the extinction of more than ten native bird species and continue to put many others at risk.”
“It’s really encouraging to see DOC recently add feral cats to the Predator Free 2025 target species list. Managing pet cats can be complex and sometimes controversial, but there’s generally stronger public support for managing feral cats. This decision is timely and helps move the national conversation on cat management in a constructive direction.”
“Good wildlife management starts with good science. At the AWMS conference, I’ll be sharing early results from our research on feral cat population densities across different environments in Aotearoa. Our aim is to develop a national map of cat population densities. By understanding how many feral cats there are and where, we can better prioritise management areas, develop density–impact relationships (the link between cat numbers and biodiversity outcomes), and set more effective, evidence-based management goals.”
Conflict of interest statement: “None”
Dr Andrew Digby, Science Advisor Kākāpō/Takahē, Department of Conservation, comments:
Note: Dr Digby’s talk is called “Scaling Conservation: Technological Innovation in Kākāpō Recovery”.
“Kākāpō have made an incredible comeback. In 1995, there were only 51 birds left. Today, there are nearly 240 thanks to decades of intensive conservation management — feeding birds, incubating eggs, and hand-rearing chicks.
“The next challenge is keeping this growth going while reducing the intensity of management so it’s sustainable for the long term. That means shifting from caring for individual birds to managing the whole population.
“Technology is helping us to make this transition. Smart transmitters and data loggers let us monitor health, breeding, and behaviour in real time. Remote sensing and genetic tools offer even more ways to manage kakapo more efficiently and track them without disturbance, enabling us to “step back” and move from kākāpō recovery to rehabilitation.”
Conflict of interest statement: “I have no conflicts of interest.”
Dr Giorgia Vattiato, Researcher – Quantitative Wildlife Ecologist, Bioeconomy Science Institute, Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research group, comments:
Note: Dr Vattiato’s talk is called “Mapping possum TB: a spatial model for smarter control”.
“Possums are still the main wildlife reservoir for bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Aotearoa New Zealand, so knowing exactly where the disease could persist, and where it’s truly gone, is crucial for keeping our environment TB-free. Our new spatial model helps us do just that.
“The model builds a kind of ‘virtual possum population’, simulating how possums move, breed, and spread TB across real landscapes. It can be used to test different control strategies, from intensive ground control to low-density maintenance, and shows how these actions affect the chance that TB quietly lingers in a valley or disappears for good.
“What’s exciting is that this model works at the same scale managers operate in: the Vector Control Zones used across the country. That means our predictions can directly support OSPRI’s Proof of Freedom programme, which decides when regions can confidently be declared TB-free. Ultimately, this is about giving managers clearer, evidence-based confidence that their hard work is paying off, and helping New Zealand stay on track to eradicate TB from wildlife.”
Conflict of interest statement: “This work was funded by OSPRI.”