101. Julie Old: Wombats, saving endangered species, and the difficulties of studying wild animals

Julie Old is as Associate Professor at Western Sydney University. We talk about her experiences and research with wombats, various aspects of wombat behavior, conservation efforts, challenges such as sarcoptic mange and roadkill, the Northern hairy-nosed wombat's critically endangered status and efforts to translocate them safely, and much more.

BJKS Podcast is a podcast about neuroscience, psychology, and anything vaguely related, hosted by Benjamin James Kuper-Smith.

Support the show: https://geni.us/bjks-patreon

Timestamps
0:00:00: How Julie got into working with wombats
0:03:14: What are wombats?
0:11:40: How Julie started researching wombats
0:15:34: Sarcoptic mange in wombats
0:25:22: Saving the critically endangered Northern hairy-nosed wombat
0:36:00: How to prevent wombats from becoming roadkill
0:41:46: How do I know a wombat was there without seeing the wombat directly?
0:44:11: What research could I do on wombats and (social) decision-making?
0:47:51: How do wombats navigate in burrows?
0:52:42: How the Australian wildfires in 19/20 affected wombats
0:55:41: WomSAT
0:59:29: The Wombat Foundation
1:01:06: How to translocate a population of wombats
1:08:35: A book or paper more people should read
1:10:53: Something Julie wishes she'd learnt sooner
1:12:11: Advice for PhD students/postdocs

Podcast links

• Website: https://geni.us/bjks-pod
• Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twt

Julie's links

• Website: https://geni.us/old-web
• Google Scholar: https://geni.us/old-scholar
• Twitter: https://geni.us/old-twt

Ben's links

• Website: https://geni.us/bjks-web
• Google Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholar
• Twitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twt

References & links

The scientific park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epping_Forest_National_Park
The Wombat Foundation: https://www.wombatfoundation.com.au/
WomSAT: https://www.womsat.org.au/womsat/

French & Whatley (2002). Diary of a Wombat.
Mayadunnage, Stannard, West & Old (2024). Spatial and temporal patterns of sarcoptic mange in wombats using the citizen science tool, WomSAT. Integrative Zoology.
Old, Hunter & Wolfenden (2018). Who utilises bare-nosed wombat burrows?. Australian Zoologist.
Old, Sengupta, Naraya, & Wolfenden (2018). Sarcoptic mange in wombats—A review and future research directions. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases.
Old & Deane (2003). The detection of mature T‐and B‐cells during development of the lymphoid tissues of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii). Journal of Anatomy.
Old & Deane (2000). Development of the immune system and immunological protection in marsupial pouch young. Developmental & Comparative Immunology.
Park (1962). The Adventures of the Muddle-headed Wombat.
Stannard, Wynan, Wynan, Dixon Mayadunnage & Old (2021). Can virtual fences reduce wombat road mortalities?. Ecological Engineering.
Strahan's mammals of Australia (2023).
Woodford (2002). The secret life of wombats.