MCZ Lunchtime Seminar

‘Beyond-the-fence’: Restoring Australia’s remarkable mammals

Patrick Finnerty
Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholar
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Sydney

Australia is home to some of the world’s most distinctive fauna, yet has lost more mammal species than any other continent over the past two centuries. Invasive predators, particularly feral cats and foxes, have driven much of this decline, making reintroductions to predator-free fenced reserves and offshore islands a cornerstone of mammal conservation in Australia. However, the limited extent of these refuges, ongoing management costs and ecological constraints mean that broader recovery requires reintroductions ‘beyond-the-fence’. Drawing on our work with eastern quolls and other native mammals, I will explore how understanding animal behaviour, sensory ecology, and ecological relationships can help return species to unfenced Australian ecosystems. I will then consider what Australia can learn from successful North American mammal reintroductions while recognising differences in predator communities and conservation challenges. Together, these examples explore how reintroductions can establish self-sustaining mammal populations and restore their ecological roles in landscapes where predators remain.