BY understanding the parasitology differences between captive and wild animals, PhD candidate Amanda Ash hopes that her research will one day help contribute to the conservation of the critically endangered African painted dog.

Murdoch University researcher Amanda Ash is examining the differences between the parasites that exist in captive and wild populations of animals, using the African painted dog as a model.

“There is not a lot of known work on parasites within wild animals,” says Ms Ash.

“There is a lot in our domestic animals and livestock because that is of economic importance but not a lot in wild life so this is an area that’s ready to be researched.”

By comparing the biodiversity of the parasites, Ms Ash is trying to predict the outcomes of the re-introduction and translocation of the animal from captive populations back to the wild, which will aid conservation programmes.

“If you’ve got a captive-bred animal which has been completely parasite-free most of its life because it has had a good worming programme, veterinary intervention and diet, [we are researching] what happens when you re-introduce that into a wild population which has had a burden of parasites for its entire life,” she says.

“That’s going to examine the differences and see whether there is something that you should do before a re-introduction goes on.”

Ms Ash is currently studying captive populations of the African painted dog from Perth zoo, and Monato zoo in South Australia. Parasite samples from wild populations of the African painted dog, also commonly known as the African wild dog, have been collected in Africa.

Supported by Painted Dog Conservation Incorporated Australia, Ms Ash has made two field trips to Africa during her candidature to collect samples, understand the animals’ environment and fine tune field work protocols.

In October, Ms Ash was awarded a Mary Walters Bursary from the Federation of University Women (AFUW-WA), which will help fund a third trip back to Africa to allow the continuation of sample collection.

“For me, fieldwork is the most expensive part of the project and because it’s wildlife, it’s not easily funded from industry supporters,” says Ms Ash.

“It was the only way I could find extra funding.”

Ms Ash will travel to Africa in April next year to continue her research.