About us
Based within the School of Veterinary Science at Massey, the Wildbase Oiled Wildlife Response team collaborates globally through research, education, training and response leadership.
Since 1998, we have partnered with Maritime New Zealand to respond to wildlife affected by oil spills and other pollution events in New Zealand.
We also coordinate New Zealand’s National Oiled Wildlife Response Team and are founding members of the Global Oiled Wildlife Response Service.
Read more about our response coordination
Wildbase’s vision is to promote research-led education in oiled wildlife response, reinforcing our reputation as a global leader in this profession.
Our aim
Through research, education and hands-on leadership, we aim to build capability in effective and efficient oiled wildlife response throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
We work to raise awareness to mitigate impacts, increase preparedness and achieve greater success in rehabilitated oiled wildlife survival globally.
Team members
Professor Louise Chilvers
Louise leads all aspects of preparedness, planning, research and response for oiled wildlife in New Zealand and assist in increasing global awareness and preparedness. Louise is the coordinator of the New Zealand National Oiled Wildlife Response Team (NOWRT) and member of Global Oiled Wildlife Response Service (GOWRS).
Louise’s research focuses on marine wildlife, population and conservation biology, behavioural and foraging ecology and for oiled wildlife research. Studies include biological, social and economic, and management issues including compassion fatigue in emergency responders.
Bridey White
In an oil spill response, Bridey has responsibilities either in the command and control centre or in the oiled wildlife facility. She was a wildlife technician during the RENA response and was part of the oiled wildlife facility team rehabilitating oiled wildlife.
Her background is in marine animal husbandry and rehabilitation. Bridey has worked at Massey as part of the veterinary teaching hospital at Wildbase since 2005. She completed a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing and graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science in 2019.
In her current role as a technical officer, Bridey is responsible for developing and delivering training modules for oiled wildlife response and assisting with training and research. Bridey maintains a keen interest in the Wildbase Hospital and enjoys teaching bird and zoo animal behaviour in the undergraduate veterinary qualification. Bridey has a strong research interest in compassion fatigue and the cost of caring in animal care professionals.
Training and courses
Wildbase offers online and face-to-face training in all aspects of oiled wildlife response. We can create custom courses tailored to your organisation's needs.
Wildbase oiled wildlife response programmes include:
- postgraduate qualifications
- veterinary teaching
- wildlife rehabilitation community
- university seminars
- specialised oiled wildlife training.
Our people are experienced researchers, wildlife oil response practitioners, and trainers. As part of Massey, Wildbase staff have access to the university's world-class teaching processes and tools.
Online oiled wildlife response training
Massey and University of California at Davis have jointly developed a university-endorsed and research driven online Oiled Wildlife Response Training (OWRT) programme.
Find out more about our short courses
The Level 1 Foundations and Level 2 Rehabilitation and Facility Development OWRT courses are available for enrolment online.
Find out more about oiled wildlife response training and enrol online
Watch these short videos to understand more about what each course contains:
Research
Massey is at the forefront of oiled wildlife research. Wildbase actively take part in collaborative and in-house research to advance knowledge of best practice in the treatment and management of oiled wildlife.
See more information and research by Wildbase Oiled Wildlife Response Director Louise Chilvers:
News and newsletters
Find out about Wildbase Oiled Wildlife Response and other Wildbase work in the news.
Newsletter
Our News Bites quarterly electronic newsletter covers topics relevant to wildlife oil spill responses.
To subscribe, email: wildbase@massey.ac.nz
Read Wildbase Maritime Response Newsbites Christmas 2024
Read Wildbase Maritime Response Newsbites August 2024
Read Wildbase Maritime Response May 2024
Read Wildbase Maritime Response Newsbites Xmas 2023
Related pages
