Why does Kanyana do scientific research?
Kanyana has access to thousands of native animals every year, who are often sick or diseased. As well as our mandate to rehabilitate wildlife, we have the opportunity to partner with universities to study what causes sickness – and how to treat it – as well as study the general life habits of some of the rarer species.
Research at Kanyana is conducted by researchers from a variety of institutions including Murdoch University, University of Western Australia (UWA) Edith Cowan University and Curtin University.
Kanyana has been recognised for its unique wildlife training potential and has a formal education and training role with Murdoch University and informal roles with both Curtin University and UWA. Undergraduate veterinary students spend a set time at Kanyana, as part of their second and fifth year course requirements, to gain and further their experience with wildlife. Postgraduate students in Conservation Medicine can complete their practical placements at eight facilities around the world; and Kanyana is one of them!
Has Kanyana been responsible for any new discoveries?
There have been numerous new species of coccidia discovered at Kanyana. The first of these, Eimeria kanyana was discovered in western barred bandicoots in 2006 and the work published in the Journal of Parasitology 92 (6) (2006) 1292-1294. Researchers from Murdoch University have recently discovered and partially characterized a novel Nidovirus is associated with respiratory disease in wild shingleback lizards (PLOS One 11 (11) (2016).
You can purchase journal articles online through the Journal of Parasitology or the Journal of Experimental Parasitology (for the other new species of coccidia discovered).
Are you a student or staff member of a university? Then, you don’t have to pay! You can log in through your library and access the articles using your university’s subscription.
Unveiling Insights through our scientific research
Kanyana Wildlife have significantly contributed to native animal health by being involved in many research projects. Researchers have looked into bobtail flu (also called Upper Respiratory Tract Infection/URTI), bobtails as intermediate hosts of the nematode Abbreviata antartica, health management of bilbies, and the wart virus found in Western Barred Bandicoots.
How can I get involved?
At Kanyana Wildlife, we’re excited to support passionate individuals interested in wildlife research. We welcome self-funded researchers and offer valuable opportunities for undergraduate, postgraduate, and postdoctoral students to contribute to our conservation efforts. If you have a research project planned through a university or secured funding, we’d love to hear from you.
Please reach out to us with your ideas and see how you can be part of our mission to protect and rehabilitate wildlife.
Be a Wildlife Hero
Make a difference today by supporting Kanyana Wildlife.
Join us in safeguarding Australia's precious wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation, and habitat protection.
Your support powers our mission and your generosity directly impacts the lives of injured, orphaned, and displaced animals in need. Together, we can make a lasting impact on wildlife conservation right here in Western Australia.
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