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-patreonTimestamps0:00:00: How Julie got into working with wombats0:03:14: What are wombats?0:11:40: How Julie started researching wombats0:15:34: Sarcoptic mange in wombats0:25:22: Saving the critically endangered Northern hairy-nosed wombat0:36:00: How to prevent wombats from becoming roadkill0:41:46: 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 wombats0:55:41: WomSAT0:59:29: The Wombat Foundation1:01:06: How to translocate a population of wombats1:08:35: A book or paper more people should read1:10:53: Something Julie wishes she'd learnt sooner1:12:11: Advice for PhD students/postdocsPodcast linksWebsite: https://geni.us/bjks-podTwitter: https://geni.us/bjks-pod-twtJulie's linksWebsite: https://geni.us/old-webGoogle Scholar: https://geni.us/old-scholarTwitter: https://geni.us/old-twtBen's linksWebsite: https://geni.us/bjks-webGoogle Scholar: https://geni.us/bjks-scholarTwitter: https://geni.us/bjks-twtReferences & linksThe scientific park: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epping_Forest_National_ParkThe 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.