WILD3003: Wildlife Management

In-situ and ex-situ approaches to wildlife management play vital roles in our efforts to conserve threatened species. But, are they two distinct strategies or should the two be integrated more wholistically and managed as a meta-population? This unit will build on the skills and theory developed in WILD2001 (Measuring Biodiversity) and AVBS3004 (Wildlife Conservation), providing students with opportunities to develop additional field-based skills, and critically evaluate different approaches to wildlife management using an evidence-based framework. Students will attend a one-week field trip at Taronga Dubbo Western Plains Zoo, where they will have the unparalleled opportunity for experiential learning. Using case-studies associated with active conservation projects at Taronga, students will critically evaluate the utility of different conservation approaches across the spectrum from intensive (highly managed) breeding programs, through to extensive (near natural) fenced conservation reserves, which play an increasingly important role in the conservation of Australia’s threatened vertebrate fauna. Students will gain hands-on experience in a range of wildlife survey techniques in The Sanctuary, a fenced wildlife area adjacent to the zoo. They will learn directly from University of Sydney and Taronga experts about the management of reproduction, nutritional ecology, physiology, behaviour, population demography, genetics and genomics, and health within different conservation programs. This unit will run as an intensive unit over a two-week period in June/July held at the University of Sydney and Taronga Western Plains zoo Dubbo. Risk assessments are regularly conducted for units that require the completion of compulsory learning activities that may expose students to zoonotic diseases. These assessments aim to identify appropriate risk mitigation controls, such as vaccination against vaccine- preventable zoonoses. Vaccination against Q fever (Coxiella burnetii) is an inherent requirement for students enrolling in this unit of study. Students must be vaccinated against Q fever before commencing the unit or no later than week one of the enrolled teaching session. Q fever vaccination is only available in Australia with the vaccination process taking three weeks to complete. Students must also submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration upon enrolment. Students who fail to receive vaccination by the specified deadline and/or submit a Q fever Vaccination Declaration are precluded from practical learning activities and will not be able to satisfactorily complete relevant units of study and/or progress in their course more generally. Please refer to the University’s website https://www.sydney.edu.au/students/q-fever-vaccinations.html for more information on student vaccinations.