Member Spotlight! Shelly Butcher

Name: Shelly Butcher

Institution: The University of Queensland

Collecting samples from a critically endangered Nangur spiny skink (Nangura spinosa) as part of my PhD research, working alongside the DETSI recovery team.

Shelly, her PhD supervisor Laura Grogan and co-authors have recently published an important paper in the Australian Veterinary Journal describing novel fungal species responsible for Snake Fungal Disease in Australia. You can also read more about this in their article in The Conversation.

Year and type of graduate student program(s)/additional training:

2015: Bachelor of Science (Vet Bioscience), The University of Adelaide

2018: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Adelaide

2022: Membership of ANZCVS by examination in Avian Medicine and Surgery

2022: Master of Veterinary Studies (Conservation Veterinary Medicine), Massey University. Thesis: “Pathogen prevalence and diversity in native and invasive New Zealand lizards”

2025 to present: Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland. Thesis: “Understanding the threat of emerging fungal diseases in wild Australian reptiles”

What is it that attracted you to work on wildlife originally?

I was lucky enough to grow up in the Adelaide Hills, on a bush block across the road from a national park. We were surrounded by wildlife: koalas in the front yard, snakes in the house, and hours spent trying to catch little skinks in the garden. My dad was also a microbiologist, and I would regularly visit his lab, help dissect snails and birds to find novel parasites, and travel with the family to scientific conferences. This combination gave me a love of science, medicine, and nature, and by high school I had realised that being a wildlife vet was the perfect job for me.

What has attracted you to focus on amphibians and reptiles?

My love of herps started in childhood. My first pet was a green tree frog, which sparked an obsession with frogs and their health and disease. Learning about chytrid fungus was my first exposure to wildlife disease as a tangible threat to conservation, and from there my interest grew to reptiles.

My move to Aotearoa/New Zealand gave me my first real professional focus on reptiles. My masters project had me travelling to spectacular locations (including the crater of a volcano) to capture skinks and geckos to sample for pathogens. This project revealed to me just how neglected reptiles are in conservation veterinary medicine.

I have always seen herps as the "little guy" — the more commonly misunderstood and overlooked species. I try to represent and advocate for the smaller but no less important members of our ecosystems. This outlook is what led me to my PhD, which came about following some novel findings in lizards and snakes during my time as a clinical vet. More research was clearly needed, and it felt like fate that I should be the one to take it on!

A northern spotted skink (Oligosoma kokowai) on Matiu/Somes Island, sampled as part of my research at Massey University

How can WDA-A members find out more information about opportunities to work with these species and other native wildlife?

Getting involved with a university is a great way to find research and fieldwork experience. Masters and PhD students are always looking for volunteers, and it is a great way to get hands- on experience with wildlife in different settings. For clinicians, becoming a clinic representative for the Wildlife Health Australia Sentinel Surveillance Program is a fantastic way to contribute to larger data collection and wildlife disease surveillance programs. Attending conferences is also well worth it for expanding your network and getting exposed to different areas of wildlife health. If you are particularly into herpetology, the Australian Society of Herpetologists holds an annual conference run in a similar relaxed, school camp style to the Wildlife Disease Association Australasian (WDA-A) conference.

Administering a rabies vaccination to a wild African painted dog during our final year vet school trip to South Africa.

What are some key reflections for you about your work in the wildlife health field in Australasia?  

One of my biggest reflections is that there is always so much more to learn. I never feel like I have mastered any aspect of wildlife medicine, and I think that is what keeps it exciting.

There is a still a huge amount of research to be done in this field. Reptiles and amphibians remain particularly underfunded and under-researched, especially considering the high proportion of endangered species. More research and funding in this space are urgently needed, and I hope my work is going some way towards contributing to that. Wildlife hospitals are an invaluable and often underutilised source of data and knowledge, and I think clinicians should be better supported to engage in research alongside their clinical work.

This field is immense, and there are so many different roles for wildlife vets and nurses. If you stay determined and open to all sorts of pathways, you can absolutely make a career in wildlife health.

Restraining a southern giant petrel (Macronectes giganteus) during my residency at Wildbase Hospital.

What types of day-to-day decisions would be beneficial for conservation in Australia, particularly for herps?

Everyday actions to combat climate change will benefit all wildlife, but particularly herpetofauna. Rising temperatures stress wildlife and favour pathogen survival, and for ectotherms, disruptions to thermoregulation make them especially vulnerable. So, reducing our contribution to climate change is also a win for reptile health.

For herpers specifically, it is worth considering disease spread and animal stress before handling. Reptile enthusiasts are some of the most knowledgeable and passionate people I know, and herping is a wonderful way to connect with these species. Reducing unnecessary handling and practising good biosecurity between sites is a simple but meaningful step.

This ties into my broader concern around emerging disease. My PhD work has highlighted the real potential for disease introduction or spread in Australia if we are not careful, and reporting unusual findings or sick animals is something anyone can do.

With a Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea) at Wellington Zoo.

How has being involved in the WDA-A section helped you during your career and what advice might you have for prospective students?

Being part of the WDA-A completely changed my outlook on a career in conservation medicine. The WDA-A community has been encouraging and supportive and showed me that pursuing wildlife medicine is a viable and important career pathway. I have been privileged to learn from some incredibly knowledgeable zoo and wildlife vets within this community and found a real sense of belonging along the way.

My advice would be to be collaborative. There is so much knowledge locked in the brains of experienced wildlife vets that never makes it into print. Talk with your colleagues, as they may have seen or tried things that are not written down anywhere. I love that wildlife vets are approachable, practical, and just want the best outcome for wildlife.

Intubating a lioness during my residency at Wellington Zoo

What is your favourite non-scientific activity and how do you find time for it?

My two favourites are gardening and hiking. In the garden I am particularly interested in permaculture, syntropic farming, and native bush regeneration. When I am not in the garden, I am happiest out hiking, particularly through rainforests and woodlands.

Finding the time requires being quite strict with my work hours and protecting my weekends. Living surrounded by national parks and state forests means a stunning hike is never far away, a guaranteed way to get off the screens, clear my head, and come back reinvigorated. Most of my free time is spent outside in the garden, and when the weather is bad my board game collection keeps me entertained.

One of my favourite hikes, and the view from the top of Mt Taranaki is something else.

It is easy to get bogged down when considering the future for wildlife, what helps you stay motivated and positive in this field?

Working at wildlife hospitals can be relentless and heartbreaking as you see the day-to-day toll that humans are having on our wildlife. However, you witness amazing vets, nurses, and wildlife carers working around the clock to save animals and getting genuinely excited when a "lolly" comes in (a little treat in the form of a rare or particularly cool species). Seeing that enthusiasm in others is infectious and inspiring.

My hope is that future generations see the value in the natural world and start to make meaningful change to the way humans live alongside nature. For me, even a small contribution to increasing the chances of saving a species or restoring wildlife abundance feels worthwhile. Taking my niece and nephew on hikes and watching them get excited about the natural world is a reminder of why this work matters.

Inducing anaesthesia in a northern brown kiwi (Apteryx mantelli) at Wildbase Hospital.

Anything else you want to highlight/talk about? Favourite WDA-A memory?

My favourite WDA-A memory was my first ever WDA-A conference at Falls Creek, Victoria. It was my first experience being surrounded by passionate wildlife advocates who have dedicated their lives to conservation. I can be quite shy, but I found it easy to chat with WDA-A members, everyone was welcoming and just happy to talk about wildlife. I will never forget our ecologist keynote speaker giving the most captivating talk about mistletoe, inspiring me to think about conservation more broadly and reminding me that this organisation is about so much more than just wildlife disease.

Member spotlight! Andrew Hill

This month the spotlight the exciting work of our member Andrew!

Name: Andrew Hill Institution: Currumbin Wildlife Hospital                                       

Andrew at Currumbin Wildlife Hospital

Year and type of graduate student program(s)/additional training:

• 2005 – BVSc (Hons), University of Sydney

• 2008 – MVSc (Wildlife Health), Massey University, New Zealand

• 2009 – MANZCVS (Avian Health)

• 2024 – Churchill Fellow

What is it that attracted you to work on wildlife originally?

I grew up on the NSW coast, watching the local bushland shrink under pressure from development, bushfire, and floods. We were often first responders, but there was frequently very little we could do.  When I realized that veterinary training could allow me to genuinely make a difference for wildlife, it quickly became the focus of my professional life. I have always been particularly curious about Australian native species, and early on I was struck by how many gaps existed in our understanding of their veterinary care. I waded in the deep end, and twenty years later I am still happily working away at those same questions. 

nvestigating respiratory disease in a carpet python at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary in 2005

What has attracted you to focus on wildlife rehabilitation?

Wildlife care is a challenging and often resource-limited field, but it has enormous potential to create positive change for animals and communities alike. Wildlife hospitals are increasingly contributing beyond individual cases—supporting prevention, building knowledge, and helping to shape real-world solutions.

What keeps me engaged is the genuine and ongoing need for better services and science to improve outcomes for wildlife and people. Wildlife medicine and rehabilitation are surprisingly people-focused professions, and I am continually encouraged by the opportunity to learn from, and contribute to, these diverse and passionate communities.

Conducting health checks during a Great Spotted (Roroa) Kiwi translocation while a resident at the New Zealand Wildlife Health Centre in 2006.

How can WDA-A members find out more information about this field?

Start locally—get to know the wildlife in your area and the challenges that they face. Connect with the people and organisations already making a difference and consider how your skills or time could support them. Volunteering or working alongside rehabilitators and wildlife hospitals is one of the best ways to build strong foundations.

There are also increasing opportunities to network and learn through professional bodies like the WDA, Wildlife Health Australia, and the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council (IWRC). For a broader perspective, my Churchill Fellowship report provides a snapshot of some overseas institutions working in this space.

Koala medicine has advanced considerably (as have our ultrasound machines) with admissions from injury and disease becoming increasingly common.

 What are some key reflections for you about your work in the wildlife health field in Australasia?  

Foremost is the amazing and supportive nature of our wildlife health community. It is hard not to be optimistic working alongside such a talented and dedicated group of professionals, and this is fortunate as collaboration is the key to long-term success.  

Second is that wildlife health issues are changing, often rapidly, and there are ongoing needs to improve knowledge, resources and funding to ensure we are intervening appropriately.

With the right team (Allison and Kate), anaesthetising Eastern Bristlebirds to attach radio-transmitters in the field can be a lot of fun - even when they weigh less than a golf ball!

What types of day-to-day decisions would be beneficial for conservation in Australia?

Most wildlife impacts are anthropogenic, so meaningful conservation requires collective action. Reducing impacts requires informed, science-based decision-making at every level, even in our backyards.  

For wildlife professionals, acting collectively includes recording and sharing knowledge, collaborating across sectors, and prioritising preventative rather than purely reactive involvement. While we are trained problem-solvers, we are rarely the ones implementing large-scale solutions ourselves—so we need to package ideas in ways others can engage with, own, and act upon.

 As community members, simply promoting the value of wildlife can go a long way. In the long-term, one of the most impactful decisions can be encouraging someone else on their conservation journey.

Currumbin became the ideal place to combine avian and wildlife medicine, with no shortage of lorikeets. The facilities have developed over time, but so to have the threats to urban-dwelling parrots.

How has being involved in the WDA-A section helped you during your career and what advice might you have for prospective students?

Being involved opens doors to connections and opportunities and provides some perspective when you start out. A significant portion of wildlife medicine still exists in people’s heads (rather than written down), so being part of a network provides access to shared knowledge, resources, and just as importantly—fun, laughter and support. My advice is to get involved early, ask lots of questions, have fun, and value the people around you as much as your end goal. 

Even on busy days, the hustle and camaraderie of the treatment room is infectious. Andrew and Renee assess a pelican admitted for fishing hook injuries.

What is your favourite non-scientific activity and how do you find time for it?

I try to balance working with unwell animals and ecosystems by spending time in healthy ones. Hiking with family and friends is particularly restorative, and a good reminder of what we are working to protect. The beaches at Currumbin are a short walk from the hospital so we have no excuse not to take a break.

Treating  koalas is a rewarding challenge whether they are in the wild, in Australian zoos or overseas.

It is easy to get bogged down when considering the future for wildlife, what helps you stay motivated and positive in this field?

Despite regularly seeing the worst of our impacts on wildlife, I remain overwhelmingly optimistic. Maintaining clarity, curiosity, and community are what help me to continue moving forward.

A clear and realistic vision for the future helps frame the big picture and provides perspective on difficult days. Staying curious about each patient and problem creates learning opportunities and can turn failure into progress. My community of wildlife veterinarians, nurses, keepers, rehabilitators and volunteers—who are a wonderfully joyful, eclectic and inspiring group—make it hard not to enjoy our work. Find an infectious community and hold onto it. 

Imping a blue and gold macaw as a native species at CETRAS, Sao Paulo, Brazil, on the first stop of a worldwide Churchill Fellowship in 2025.

Anything else you want to highlight/talk about? Favourite WDA-A memory?

It is such a great time to be involved in wildlife health, whether you are seeking tools, support, connections or a voice. Partnering with others is essential—not just for opportunities and longevity in the field, but as the positive glue that keeps you going. Reach out and build those connections throughout your journey.

My favourite WDA memory is the combined international conference on the Sunshine Coast in 2015. Seeing seemingly disparate projects align in ways that were genuinely useful for the Australian context - and meeting veterinarians from overseas who were tackling similar challenges - was both inspiring and affirming.

Andrew joins Dr Nic Masters at Toronto Zoo to discuss zoo-based conservation facilities in 2025.

Member spotlight! Alison Peel!

This month we spotlight the work of our member Alison Peel.

Ali recently commenced a new appointment as a Horizon Fellow at The University of Sydney, and she was also our 2025 recipient of the WDA-A Barry L Munday award. Congratulations Ali!

Name: Dr Alison Peel

Institution: Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney

Ali with a frog that jumped on her.

Year and type of graduate student program(s)/additional training:

• 2012 PhD, University of Cambridge (viruses in African fruit bats)

• 2007 MSc in Wild Animal Health, Royal Veterinary College, London

Ali in the field in remote African islands, 2010, exploring Henipavirus, Lyssavirus and genetics of African fruit bats.

What is it that attracted you to work on wildlife originally?

I grew up in a part of Sydney with lots of native bushland around me, wildlife in my garden, and a fascination regarding the animals around me. During my vet degree, I loved the novelty of working with a range of different wildlife and zoo species, and was just so curious about their diversity, behaviour, and adaptations in wild and captive environments.

Ali releasing a captured flying fox (photo credit Kathleen Flynn).

What has attracted you to focus on bats?

After my MSc, I had the opportunity to continue work with my MSc supervisor, Prof Andrew Cunningham, via a PhD project on African straw-coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum). Initially, I was attracted by the opportunity to work on bat viruses (there was growing interest in emerging bat viruses at the time) and in Africa (a childhood dream). Very quickly, I became intrigued by my study species and its ecology. Even though it was a very common species, widespread across continental Africa, very little was documented about its seasonal distributions, movements, and how roost sites in tiny forests at the southern extent of its range could go from being empty to hosting many millions of individuals within a couple of days, at the same time each year. I just found them so fascinating, and have not looked back since.

Ali investigating Henipavirus, Lyssavirus and genetics of African fruit bats in Tanzania in 2009.

How can WDA-A members connect more with these species and ecosystems?

Take some time out to visit your local camp - particularly during morning arrivals or evening departures when bats are most active. I think observing a species' behaviour in their natural environment is the best way to appreciate and connect with them. For a more up-close experience, engagement with bat rescue and rehabilitation networks provides excellent opportunities to understand bat health and welfare issues directly. There are many incredibly dedicated and highly knowledgeable carers who have taught me so much. I encourage vets, vet students, nurses and ecologists to ensure that they are up to date with their rabies vaccinations. Many flying foxes suffer unnecessarily because carers cannot access a vaccinated vet who is willing to treat or euthanise them.

Ali holding a bat (photo credit Olivier Restif).

What are some key reflections for you about your work in the wildlife health field in Australasia?

In my work, I’ve come to appreciate the value of long-term surveillance and ecological monitoring. The involvement of an ecologist, Dr Peggy Eby, in Hendra virus spillover investigations alongside veterinary and public health professionals, was transformative. Observations of unusual feeding behaviour at spillover sites set in motion research that ultimately determined what had changed for the species, and how this was related to Hendra spillover. I think it's imperative to work across disciplines and sectors, to bring everyone along on the journey to identify lasting solutions - and it’s a thoroughly enjoyable way to work too. Wildlife Health Australia has been instrumental in fostering these approaches in Australia.

Ali gently removing a captured bat from the net (photo credit Remy Brooks), 2021.

How has being involved in the WDA-A section helped you during your career and what advice might you have for prospective students?

First and foremost, WDA-A has provided me with a community. When I first joined WDA-A as a vet student (in around 2000/2001 I think), I was introduced to such welcoming community, doing such important and exciting work, and it really opened my eyes to the incredible range of work and careers in wildlife health across Australia. When I returned to Australia after eight years living in the UK, I attended the first WDA-A conference I could make it to, and I remember being struck by a feeling of being "amongst my people". Although I don’t make it along to as many conferences as I’d like, that sense of belonging has stayed with me throughout my career. My advice to prospective students is simple: get involved and have conversations - as well as contributing to your sense of self within the community, connections that come through random conversations can lead to opportunities and collaborations you might never have imagined.

Ali handling a flying fox (photo credit Kathleen Flynn).

What is your favourite non-scientific activity and how do you find time for it?

Being in nature - but I’m very bad at making time for it!

It is easy to get bogged down when considering the future for wildlife, what helps you stay motivated and positive in this field?

Working with dedicated collaborators, students, wildlife carers and the broader community of wildlife health professionals keeps me motivated. I think that the feeling like we are all working towards the same goals and helping each other out goes a long way towards staying positive.

Ali holding a flying fox (photo credit Kathleen Flynn).

Anything else you want to highlight/talk about? Favourite WDA-A memory?

My favourite WDA-A memory is from my first WDA-A conference (in Kakadu), sleeping in swags, next to my good friend Anne Martin and experiencing the awe of the incredible night sky.