The effects of lethal management on carnivore populations are rarely measured. This study modelled how different levels of lethal management could impact a known dingo population in eastern Australia, and showed that lethal control targeting individual problem animals has less impact on population persistence than broadscale culls. In scenarios where this is possible, and where carnivore population persistence is desired, we recommend that targeted lethal control of individuals should take precedence over indiscriminate lethal management. Photograph by Alexander Dibnah.

As a result of rapid human population growth associated with rural poverty, wildlife conservation in Ethiopia is challenging. These challenges originate from resource-use conflicts, insufficient funding, political instabilities, and policy gaps. This perspective aimed to compile scientific evidence on wildlife conservation problems in Ethiopia focusing on ecotourism as a solution. Photograph by E. B. Tefera.

Millions of birds worldwide have become victims of airspace collisions with aircraft and wind turbines. This study aimed to improve understanding of waterbird (ibis and spoonbill) flight characteristics by using GPS satellite telemetry data, as a first step in assessing species vulnerability to collision. There was clear overlap between flight heights and collision zones found, and we make recommendations for factors that should be considered when assessing spatially and temporally explicit scenarios of risk management. Photograph by Heather McGinness.

Many hunters are switching to copper bullets to reduce lead exposure in wildlife and game meat, but little is known about how these bullets perform at long range. In our study of elk shot with copper bullets, recovered animals were hit at an average of 305 m compared with 391 m for unrecovered animals, although overall recovery rates were 91%. These findings support copper bullets as an effective option for long-range hunting when used by skilled hunters. Photograph by Craig Jourdonnais.

In the face of continued koala habitat loss, large-scale mapping methods that accurately predict ‘legal’ koala habitat are essential for the species’ conservation. Our study tested a new vegetation-mapping approach, which slightly outperformed on-ground surveys in identifying potential koala habitats. This method provides wildlife managers, policy makers, and consultants with a reliable, scalable tool for land management and planning. Photograph by John Turbill.

Species distribution models (SDMs) are used for a variety of purposes, yet they are rarely validated externally to test the accuracy of habitat suitability predictions. Using the greater sooty owl as a case study, we demonstrated an approach to validating species distribution models. Our approach could be applied to a variety of species to test the accuracy of SDMs, and provides insight into environmental variables relevant to greater sooty owl conservation, while identifying areas of predicted high-quality habitat in south-eastern Queensland, which could be targeted for future surveys and habitat protection. Graph by Dylan Westaway.

The Dog Fence was built to exclude dingoes (Canis familiaris) from sheep (Ovis aries) grazing land. This study reviewed historic newspaper articles to examine dingo impacts on the South Australian sheep industry before the Dog Fence, as well as challenges and consequences of broad-scale dingo control. The articles highlighted the extensive damage and cost dingoes caused the sheep industry. However, widespread control led to unintended ecological consequences, including rapid increases in rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and native herbivore populations. Photograph by David Taggart.