Research 
 Grants Program 

Wildlife Research

WIRES ran a dedicated Research Grants Program for 3 years, starting in 2022. The Research Grants Program was designed to address the significant knowledge gaps surrounding Australian wildlife and their habitats, and it was proudly supported by the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.

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WIRES Research Grants Program Objectives

The Research Grants Program was developed to support wildlife research across Australia, focused on proposals that had tangible, positive and ideally long-term outcomes for wildlife. Funding granted through this program was available for up to three (3) years, with grants administered through WIRES.

 

The overall objective of the WIRES Research Grants Program was to:

  • Identify and address current research gaps that result in evidence-based approaches to objectively reduce future risk to and improve the health and habitats of Australian native species.
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  • Advance scientific research into key issues impacting Australian wildlife and habitats through strategic investment.
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  • Raise awareness and implementation of proven wildlife rehabilitation and conservation methods.
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  • Promote best practice emergency preparedness and response in the context of wildlife conservation.
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The program aimed to support robust scientific research, leading to evidence-based practices. Ideal projects would reduce the likelihood of wildlife requiring rescue and rehabilitation, provide scientific-based evidence for the improvement of rescue and rehabilitation methods, improve post-release outcomes for rehabilitated wildlife, and aid the recovery of wild populations and their habitats, all of which would improve long-term ecological outcomes in Australia.

 

Project Categories

Risk-Reduction - Research to help reduce the likelihood of wildlife requiring rescue and rehabilitation.

Rescue and Rehabilitation - Research to improve rescue and rehabilitation methods.

Release - Research to improve post-release outcomes for rehabilitated wildlife.

Recovery - Research to aid the recovery of wild populations and their habitats.

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Grant Recipients

WIRES committed $1.5 million dollars to a three-year Research Grants Program to be rolled out from 2022-2024. The WIRES Research Grants Program (WIRES RGP) is designed to address the significant knowledge gaps surrounding Australian wildlife and their habitats, to improve long-term outcomes nationally for all native species. 

It was a competitive grants program, and an assessment panel was set up to evaluate eligible applications. Assessments were based on the proposed project, value for money, collaborative opportunities, funding priorities, and demonstrated need. 

View the successful grant recipients for 2022, 2023, and 2024 

Grant Recipients 2022

2022 - Successful Grant Recipients and Projects

Spread across 5 States there were 12 successful projects in 2022.

NSW

  • Can plant volatiles and bedding material attract Australian birds and mammals to nest boxes and chainsaw hollows? - Charles Sturt University
  • Building an evidence-base to inform post-fire wildlife provisioning of food and water - Taronga Conservation Society Australia
  • Koalas, genotyping, trackers, and drones: Using thermal imaging, novel VHF/GPS tracking technology and genotyping to enhance post-release outcomes for rehabilitated koalas and support the recovery of the Port Stephens koala population - University of Newcastle
  • Habitat restoration for threatened bats in critically endangered woodland - University of Sydney
  • Eyes and ears on recovery: developing a smart sensor network for post-megafire biodiversity recovery - University of Sydney

QLD

  • Reducing tick paralysis mortalities in the endangered spectacled flying fox - University of QLD
  • Development and Validation of a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Diagnostic Assay for Rapid Detection of the Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Frogs - Currumbin Wildlife Hospital (LCI) & University of QLD

SA

  • Securing the health and viability of koala populations in post-fire landscapes - Flinders University
  • Gastrointestinal microbiome changes with the onset and progression of the disease oxalate nephrosis in koalas - University of Adelaide

TAS

  • DNA demography for evidence-based seabird recovery - University of Tasmania

VIC

  • Quantifying harmful lead exposure in Australian raptors - University of Melbourne
  • Rapid diagnostic testing for a severe lizard respiratory virus - University of Melbourne

WIRES is proud to be able to support these fantastic groups and projects, and we look forward to sharing the project updates and outcomes as they take place.

Grant Recipients 2023
Approved projects for Research Grants Program 2023 cover a wide range of research topics, including marine debris, co-infections in koalas, pathogen surveillance for marine birds, artificial refuges for fauna, heavy metal exposure in platypus populations, threats to greater gliders, the marsupial gut microbiome, possum rehabilitation, and improving the care of injured turtles.
Grant Recipients 2024

Program Impact

WIRES has funded 28 national wildlife research projects

WIRES committed up to 1.5 million over 3 years for grant support within the Research Grants Programs. Over $1.2 million was committed to the successful projects and the remaining funds will be used to support more critical wildlife research.