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Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre
MEDIA ALERT
17 April 2015
National feral cat workshop in Canberra
Feral cats are threatening the survival of Australia’s endangered wildlife on a national scale. To
tackle the problem the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre will bring together
Australia’s leading feral cat experts at a national workshop in Canberra on 21-22 April 2015 to
discuss advances and potential new directions in feral cat management.
The workshop, funded by the Australian Government Department of the Environment, coincides
with the Minister for the Environment recently releasing for comment the draft ‘Threat abatement
plan for predation by feral cats’, which sets out a national framework to guide response to the
impacts of feral cats on biodiversity.
WHO: Australia’s leading feral cat researchers, scientists, NGO’s, ecologists and the Threatened
Species Commissioner will attend. Topics will include feral cat impacts, monitoring, control tools
(for example toxic baits, biocontrol and fertility control), management strategies, animal welfare
and community engagement.
The list of over 40 of Australia’s leading experts presenting at the workshop include:

Gregory Andrews, Threatened Species Commissioner, Department of the Environment

Professor Christopher Dickman, University of Sydney: Leading expert in feral cat and their
impacts on native wildlife as well as the interactions between dingoes and feral cats. He
has also written a number of books and reports on the impacts of feral cats.

Professor John Woinarski, Charles Darwin University & Deputy Director of the Threatened
Species Recovery Hub of the National Environmental Science Programme: Has been
involved in research and conservation management of threatened Australian wildlife for
more than 30 years.

Dr David Algar, Senior Research Scientist, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Western
Australia: Area of expertise is the development of feral cat control strategies and
monitoring their success.

Atticus Fleming, Chief Executive, Australian Wildlife Conservancy

Dr Tony Buckmaster, Invasive Animals CRC & University of Canberra: PhD on feral cats
in tall forests looking at how they utilise and move through their environment. Recent
research on the abundance of feral cats in Australia.
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Building 22, University Drive South, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, 6201

Dr Andrew Bengsen, Research Scientist, NSW Department of Primary Industries: his
research has focused on improving the effectiveness of feral cat control by understanding
how cats use the landscape and by developing methods for monitoring cat populations.

Paul Meek, Invasive Species Officer, NSW Department of Primary Industries: initiated
companion animal management on Christmas Island. Studying the relationships between
wild dogs, foxes, feral cats and quolls, including evaluating systems to monitor feral cats
(eg camera traps). Evaluating feral cat lures and testing the feral cat grooming trap.

Dr Guy Ballard, NSW Department of Primary Industries & University of New England:
Actively researches feral cat management, including cats' interactions with dingoes, foxes
and quolls, in northern New South Wales.
WHEN: Tuesday 21 & Wednesday 22 April 2015, 10am – 5pm, University of Canberra
INTERVIEWS: The workshop proceedings are closed to media and the public. Please contact
Kylee Carpenter 0429 985 643 for assistance to make interview arrangements.
-ENDS-
Media contact:
Kylee Carpenter, Communications Officer, Invasive Animals CRC
P: 02 6201 2890 | M: 0429 985 643 | E: [email protected]
The Invasive Animals CRC is supported by the Australian Government’s Business Cooperative Research Centres Programme.
www.invasiveanimals.com | @PestSmartCRC | Subscribe to media: www.invasiveanimals.com/media-centre/subscribe
Building 22, University Drive South, University of Canberra, Bruce, Australian Capital Territory, 6201