Research
What happens after an animal dies – and why it matters
My research follows carrion through ecosystems: the scavengers that use it, the conditions that shape their behaviour, and the disease risks that can travel with it.
01 · Ecology
Scavenging ecology
Who eats carrion, when, why, and how does the resource structure ecosystems.
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02 · Disease ecology
Wildlife disease & spillover
Carcasses as meeting points where pathogens can move between wild and domestic animals.
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03 · Biosecurity
Biosecurity & emerging threats
What scavengers mean for preparing Australia for rabies and H5N1 bird flu.
ExploreHow the research works
From a single carcass to a biosecurity question
Photo: Niraj holding a drone controller, leaning on a field vehicle in open woodland
01 — Field
Carcasses placed across contrasting landscapes
Kangaroo carcasses are set out in desert, forest and alpine bioregions, in open and closed habitats, across warm and cool seasons.
Photo: Niraj kneeling to strap a camera trap to a tree in dense tropical woodland while a colleague looks up into the canopy
02 — Observe
Camera traps record every visit
Motion-triggered cameras capture which species arrive, how long they feed, which body parts they target and how they interact with each other.
Photo: Night-time camera-trap image of a large crocodile feeding on a carcass
03 — Analyse
Patterns across species, seasons and decay
Statistical models separate the effects of bioregion, habitat, season and decomposition stage on scavenger activity and behaviour.
Photo: A golden dingo standing alert in dry tropical woodland
04 — Apply
Informing disease risk and biosecurity
Carcasses are meeting points for wild and domestic animals. Understanding them helps anticipate how threats like rabies or H5N1 bird flu could spread.
Collaborate
Working on a question worth exploring?
I'm open to collaborations on scavenging, carrion ecology and wildlife disease, and to talking with students, land managers and journalists.
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