In August, the Mastermark team traveled to Melbourne to attend the Australian Aviation Wildlife Hazard Group (AAWHG) Forum, an event filled with valuable insights from across the aviation and wildlife management sectors. The forum brought together biologists, airside operators, pilots, and other industry professionals, offering a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from different perspectives.
Representing the Mastermark team were airport biologists Juliana Chan, Ruisheng Choo, and myself, Debra Yap, along with Mastermark's director, Christopher Wee. One of the highlights was escaping the tropical heat of Singapore for the cool Melbourne winter, where we had the chance to meet delegates from down under and beyond. The week kicked off with a warm welcome at the International Guest Welcome Function. The icebreaker event set the tone for the forum, which began the following day with a focus on international perspectives in wildlife hazard management.
The presentations provided a fresh outlook on how different countries approach wildlife management, prompting us to reflect on how these strategies could apply to our own context. Several case studies from Australian airports were presented, including an example from Brisbane Airport. Their integrated vegetation management strategy tackled wildlife risks by managing habitat and food sources, addressing issues from the ground up.
International Collaborations
We had the pleasure of meeting the delegation from the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand. Interestingly, one of their members had attended our airport wildlife hazard training course a few years back and later established Thailand's Wildlife Hazard Management Task Force, implementing several key strategies. It was great to reconnect with him after all these years, and he even remembered one of his instructors, our Senior Biologist, Bernard Koh! We also connected with a Cambodian delegate from Aerodrome and Ground Aids, who was eager to exchange knowledge and build more comprehensive wildlife management strategies.
The New Zealand delegation, represented by Lizzie Civil, Jimmy Coville, and Michael Weir, brought a diverse set of expertise. Their team, comprising an ecologist, Senior Operational Safety Lead, and Apron and Wildlife Manager, shared insights on tracking endangered species nests with GIS technology and addressing seagrass growth through sedimentation solutions.
Wildlife Genomics & Species Identification
Dr. David Alquezar, Manager of the Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics at the Australian Museum, presented a fascinating talk on species identification in wildlife strikes. Since 2006, his team has collaborated with 45 aerodrome operators across Australia and New Zealand, processing over 2,400 cases of wildlife airstrike species identification. His approachable nature made for great conversations, and we were pleased to express our appreciation for the museum's role in improving strike identification.
Highlight on Indonesia's Approach
We had the pleasure of introducing Achmad Sadikin, an AirAsia pilot and Chairman of the Indonesian National Committee on Airport Wildlife Hazard Management, who delivered an insightful presentation on Indonesia's civil approach to wildlife management. His talk shed light on the unique challenges and strategies employed in Indonesia, contributing valuable perspectives to the broader conversation on wildlife hazard management. His presentation was well-received and sparked meaningful discussions.
A Successful Exchange of Knowledge
The AAWHG Forum created a productive environment for wildlife biologists and airport operators to connect and collaborate. Conversations with other airport biologists were particularly insightful, as we learned how others manage wildlife at their respective airports. Beyond biology, the presence of airline pilots, vendors, and airspace operators enriched the discussions and broadened our understanding of wildlife hazard management. The engaging panel discussions provided multiple perspectives on addressing these challenges.
The Mastermark team left the forum feeling inspired and eager to reconnect with our new international colleagues at future events. We look forward to continuing these conversations and attending the next AAWHG Forum.
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