Member spotlight! Alison Peel!
- wildlifedzaustrala
- 3 days ago
- 4 min read
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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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