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Management of wildlife firstly requires an understanding of what wildlife is and why wildlife species are not equally important, and to appreciate this, students will be introduced to the diversity, abundance and distribution of native and introduced terrestrial wildlife in Australia. Furthermore, this course will introduce students to the knowledge and skills that are required for different types of wildlife management, and in particular the tools and methods that they will use in later courses and as professional wildlife managers after graduation.

This course provides a general introduction and overview of wildlife management. The course focusses on iconic, important (ecologically, socially, economically), abundant and vulnerable to extinction wildlife species - why some species populations have increased in abundance and distribution and other species have decreased. Key aspects of wildlife management as a means of conserving, utilising, and controlling wildlife will be discussed. The strengths and limitations of different types of survey techniques, as a key component of wildlife management, will be introduced. Issues examined include the impacts of introduced species, agricultural and forestry practices, and climate change on wildlife species. Special attention is given to the growing importance of managing human-wildlife conflict.

To gain these skills and knowledge students are strongly encouraged to attend a highly recommended three-day residential school. During the three-day residential school students will be introduced to the use of different basic survey tools and laboratory classes on how to identify common species of Australian wildlife using binoculars, scats, tracks, skulls and other traces. Non-attendance at the residential school will mean the student misses an element of assessment.

To participate in some elements of the residential school you will need to have immunity to, or have been vaccinated against, Q fever and tetanus (zoonotic diseases). Failure to do so may mean the student misses an element of assessment.

1. Define what is wildlife and why wildlife is important;
2. Explain the different types of wildlife management, and why wildlife needs be conserved, utilised or controlled;
3. Identify and describe why some wildlife species are iconic, important (ecologically, socially, economically), abundant or vulnerable to extinction;
4. Discuss the origins of wildlife in Australia and the processes involved in determining their distribution and abundance;
5. Explain the impacts of introduced species, agricultural and forestry practices, and climate change on native wildlife species;
6. Describe the different types of survey methods used by wildlife managers;
7. Discuss the different types of legislation that controls and defines wildlife; and
8. Describe the processes involved in managing human-wildlife conflict.