Accessibility statement

Dr Giovanna Massei
Senior Research Fellow & Europe Director of the Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control

Profile

Biography

Giovanna’s research is focussed on non-lethal methods to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, with particular interest on fertility control for wildlife, for free-roaming dogs and livestock. As a science communicator, regularly invited to give lectures at national and international conferences, Giovanna published > 70 popular science articles in addition to peer-reviewed papers. Giovanna has secured funding for research from government and non-governmental agencies in the UK and overseas. She provides regular advice to governmental and international organisations. Examples include invitations by FAO as expert on dog population management (2011) and on African Swine Fever as wild boar expert (2021), by WHO as expert on feral dogs (2012), by the European Food Safety Authority as expert on wild boar trends (2014 and 2018).

Giovanna is a Member of the Scientific Board of the EAZA Group on Zoo Animal Contraception (2013 to present), of the UK National Expert Group on Wildlife and Wild Pigs (2012 to present), and of the Hong Kong’s Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department’s Wild Pig Management Advisory Group (2018 to present). She is also an Associate Editor for the peer-reviewed journal Human-Wildlife Interactions (2012 to present).

Since 2021, Giovanna is the Europe Director of the Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control.

Education

  • PhD (Zoology) 1995 Wild boar ecology and behaviour in a Mediterranean area. Aberdeen University, UK
  • Specialisation in Wildlife Management and Conservation, 1988, National Institute of Wildlife Management, Bologna, Italy
  • Degree in Natural Sciences (MSc), 1985. University of Florence, Italy

Research

Overview

Current and recent projects

  • Developing and delivering oral contraceptives for grey squirrels (2017-2024). Project leader. £1M, funder: UK Squirrel Accord.
  • Modelling the impact of fertility control on non-native grey squirrels in the UK (2016-2021). Project leader.£ ~200k, funder: Defra.
  • Evaluating safety and effectiveness of a single dose immunocontraceptive vaccine for fertility control in coypu (2020-2022). Co-Investigator. £1.8k funder: LIFE.
  • Immunocontraception for wild boar in the peri-urban area of the Parc de Sant  Llorenç (Spain) (2017-2021). Co-Principal Investigator. £40k, funder: Autonomous University of Barcelona.
  • Capture, Contraception, Rehome Programme for Wild Pigs in Hong Kong (2017-2022). Principal Investigator. £~150k, funder: Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
  • Fertility control to manage feral cattle and buffaloes in Hong Kong (2013-2020). Principal Investigator. £~135k, funder: Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
  • Review on biology, impact and management of wild boar in the UK (2018). Project leader. £10k, funder: Woodland Trust.
  • Preliminary Assessment of the Feasibility of Maintaining, Limiting or Eradicating Feral Pigs in Scotland (including risk assessment) (2014). Project leader. £10k, funder: Scottish Natural Heritage.
  • Refining approaches to the surveillance of wild boar presence, abundance and environmental impact for best-practice guidance (2011-2014). Project leader
  • Assessment of free-roaming dog health and evaluation of knowledge, attitude and practice of dog owners to canine rabies in Chitwan District, Nepal (2013-2014). Project leader. £10k, funder: B&J Charitable Trust.
  • Establish proof of concept of an immunocontraceptive vaccine for oral delivery to mammals (2011-2014). Project leader
  • Dog population management to assist with rabies control in Mainpat, India (2010-2011). Responsible for experimental design and data collection for dog population parameters and household surveys
  • Reducing the impact of feral livestock in and around the Centre Hills in Montserrat (2009-2011). Project leader. £60k, funder: RSPB.

Publications

Full publications list

Webinars, blogs, interviews

Peer-reviewed publications

  1. Beatham S., Coats J., Stephens P., Massei G. Factors affecting the delivery of oral contraceptives to grey squirrels. (submitted). Wildlife Research.
  2. Massei G., Boyles Griffin S.L. 2022. (in press) Stakeholder acceptance of wild equid fertility control mirrors global shifts in attitudes to wildlife management. Human–Wildlife Interactions.
  3. Pinkham R., Koon K.K., To J., Chan J., Vial F., Gomm , Eckery D.C., Massei G. 2022. Long-term effect of a GnRH-based immunocontraceptive on feral cattle in Hong Kong. Plos one17, 8 : e0272604.
  4. Gill R., Massei G., Pinkham R., Beatham S., Whitelaw B., McNicol C. 2022. Grey Squirrel Control Research – what new approaches may we anticipate for the future? Quarterly Journal of Forestry 116: 54-61.
  5. Colomer J., Rosell C., Rodriguez-Teijeiro J. D., Massei G. Reserve effect’: an opportunity to mitigate human-wild boar conflicts. Science of the Total Environment 795, p.148721.
  6. Pinkham R., Eckery D., Mauldin R., Gomm M., Hill F., F. Vial, Massei G. Longevity of an Immunocontraceptive Vaccine Effect on Fecundity in Rats. Vaccine: X, p.100138.
  7. Jori F., Massei G., Licoppe A., Ruiz-Fons F., Linden A., Václavek P., Chenais E. and Rosell C.I.E.P. 2021. Management of wild boar populations in the European Union before and during the ASF crisis. In Understanding and Combatting African Swine Fever: A European Perspective(pp. 263-271). Wageningen Academic Publishers.
  8. Keuling O., Massei, G. Does hunting affect the behavior of wild pigs? Human–Wildlife Interactions, 15(1), p.11.
  9. Massei , Cowan D., Coats J. 2021. A novel method for detecting wild boar presence. Human–Wildlife Interactions, 15(1), p.14.
  10. Beatham S., Goodwin D., Coats, Stephens P., Massei G. 2021. A PIT-tag based method for monitoring individual bait uptake in small mammals. Ecological Solutions and Evidence 2 (2) e12081.
  11. Croft S., Aegerter J.N., Beatham S., Coats J., Massei G. A spatially-explicit population model to compare culling versus fertility control to reduce numbers of grey squirrels. Ecological Modelling 440, 109386.
  12. Croft S., Franzetti B., Gill R., Massei G. Too many wild boar? Modelling fertility control and culling to reduce wild boar numbers in isolated populations. Plos one15, 9: e0238429.
  13. Croft S., Massei G., Smith G.C., Fouracre D., Aegerter J.N., 2020. Modelling spatial and temporal patterns of African swine fever in an isolated wild boar population to support decision-making. Frontiers in Veterinary Science Special Issue on ASF 7: 154.
  14. Massei G., Cowan D., Eckery D., Mauldin R., Gomm M., Rochaix P., Hill F., Pinkham R., Miller L. A. 2020. Effect of vaccination with a GnRH-based oral immunocontraceptive on immune responses and fertility in rats. Heliyon 6:e03781.
  15. Croft S., Aegerter J.N., Massei G., Smith G.C. 2019. The risk of foot-and-mouth disease becoming endemic in a wildlife host is driven by spatial extent rather than density. Plos one14, 6: e0218898.
  16. Cowan D., SmithC., Gomm M., Brash M., Bellamy F., Massei G., Conwell R., Vial F. 2019. Evaluation of a single-shot Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) immunocontraceptive vaccine in captive badgers. European Journal of Wildlife Research 65: 59-77.
  17. Massei G., Koon K., Law S., Gomm M., Mora D.S.O., Callaby R., Palphramand K., Eckery D.C. 2018. Fertility control for managing free-living feral cattle in Hong Kong. Vaccine 36: 7393-7398.
  18. Massei G., Coats J., Lambert M., Pietravalle S., Gill R., Cowan D. Camera traps and activity signs to estimate wild boar abundance and population trends. Pest Management Science 74: 853-860.
  19. Massei G. Oral Contraceptives for Grey Squirrels. 2018. Quarterly Journal of Forestry 112: 39-41.
  20. Ferretti F., Coats J., Cowan, PietravalleS., Massei G. 2018. Seasonal variation of effectiveness of the Boar-Operated-System to deliver baits to wild boar. Pest Management Science 74: 422-429.
  21. Ward J. K., Smith G. C., Massei, G. 2018. Disease transmission mode has little effect on simulated canine rabies elimination. bioRxiv, 354175.
  22. Baruzzi C., Coats J., Callaby R., Cowan D. Massei G. Rhodamine B as a Long-Term Semi-Quantitative Bait Marker for Wild Boar. Wildlife Society Bulletin 41: 271–277.
  23. Chauvenet A.L.M., Gill R.M.A., Smith G.C., Ward A.I., Massei G. Quantifying the bias in density estimated from distance sampling and camera trapping of unmarked individuals. Ecological Modelling 350: 79-86.
  24. Ward J.K., Smith G.C., Massei G. Disease transmission mode has little effect on simulated canine rabies elimination. BioRxiv, p.354175.
  25. Learmount J., Stephens N., Boughtflower V., Barrecheguren Gutierrez A., Massei G.,Taylor M. Three-year evaluation of best practice guidelines for nematode control on commercial sheep farms in the UK. Veterinary Parasitology226: 116-123.
  26. La Morgia V., Genovesi P., Massei G. 2016. Use of the vaccine immunocontraceptive GonaCon associated with eradicating the gray squirrel in Umbria. Rapporto tecnico ISPRA (Institute Institute For Environmental Protection And Research): 1-6.
  27. Massei G.,  Fooks A. R.,  Horton D. L., Callaby R., Sharma K., Dhakal I. P., Dahal. 2017. Free‐roaming dogs in Nepal: Demographics, health and public knowledge, attitudes and practices. Zoonoses and public health 64: 29-40.
  28. Alexander, N. S., Massei, G., Wint, W. 2016. The European Distribution of Sus scrofa. Model Outputs from the Project Described within the Poster–Where are All the Boars? An Attempt to Gain a Continental Perspective. Open Health Data, 4 (1).
  29. Massei G., Koon K.K., Benton S., Brown R., Gomm M., Orahood D. S., Pietravalle S., Eckery D.E. 2015. Immunocontraception for managing feral cattle in Hong Kong. Plos one  10, 4 : e0121598.
  30. Massei G., Kindberg, Licoppe A., Gačić D.,  Šprem N., Kamler J., Baubet E., Hohmann U., Monaco A., Ozoliņš J., Cellina S., Podgórski T., Fonseca C., Markov N., Pokorny B., Rosell C., Náhlik A. 2015. Wild boar populations up, numbers of hunters down? A review of trends and implications for Europe. Pest Management Science 71: 492-500.
  31. Ward A.I., Massei G., Cowan P. 2015. Wildlife Reservoirs of Livestock Disease: Planning Responses to Suspected Outbreaks of Classical Swine Fever in Feral Swine. In: Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference 26, No. 26.
  32. Ferretti F., Storer K., Coats J., Massei G. Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Defecation in Wild Boar. Wildlife Society Bulletin 39: 65-69.
  33. Quy J., Massei G., Lambert M.S., Coats J., Miller L.A., Cowan D.P. 2014. Effects of a GnRH vaccine on the movement and activity of free-living wild boar (Sus scrofa). Wildlife Research 41: 185-193.
  34. Massei G., Cowan P. 2014. Fertility control to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts: a review. Wildlife Research 41: 1-21.
  35. Ferretti F., Sforzi. A., Coats J., Massei G. The BOSTM as a species-specific method to deliver baits to wild boar in a Mediterranean area. European Journal of Wildlife Research 60:555-558.
  36. Pitorri F., Carmichael N., Massei G., Coats J., Cowan D., Brash M., Williams T. Comparison of serum biochemistry and haematology values in captive and free-ranging wild boar (Sus scrofa). Comparative Clinical Pathology 2: 1-6.
  37. EngemanM., Massei G., Sage M., Gentle M.N. 2013. Monitoring wild pig populations: a review of methods. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20:8077–8091.  
  38. Massei G., Miller L.A. 2013. Non-surgical fertility control for managing free-roaming dog populations: a review of products and criteria for field applications. Theriogenology 80: 829-838.
  39. Massei G., Cowan D.P., Coats , Bellamy F., Quy R., Brash M., Miller L.A. 2012. Long-term effects of immunocontraception on wild boar fertility, physiology and behaviour. Wildlife Research 39:378-385.
  40. Frantz A.C., Massei G. and Burke T. 2012. Genetic evidence for past hybridisation between domestic pigs and English wild boar. Conservation Genetics 13: 1355-1364.
  41. Ballesteros C.,Sage ,Fisher P., Massei G., Mateo R., de la Fuente J.,Rossi S., Gortázar C. 2012. Iophenoxic acid as a bait-marker for wildlife: Efficacy and safety considerations. Mammal Review 43:156-66.
  42. Massei G. Il controllo della fertilità nella fauna selvatica: una soluzione praticabile? Gazzetta Ambiente 1:47-54. [Fertility control for wildlife: a practical solution?]
  43. Massei G. Catch, inject and release: immunocontraception as alternative to culling and surgical sterilisation to control rabies in free-roaming dogs. In: Compendium of the OIE Global Conference on Rabies Control. A.R. Fooks and T Muller Eds. OIE, Paris: 181-187.
  44. Massei G., Roy S., Bunting R. 2011. Too many hogs? A review of methods to mitigate impact by wild boar and feral pigs. Human-Wildlife Interactions 5: 79-99.
  45. Campbell T.A., D. B Long and Massei 2011. Efficacy of the Boar-Operated-System to deliver baits to feral swine. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 98:243-249.
  46. Carroll M.J., A. Singer, G.C. Smith, D. P. Cowan, Massei G. The use of immunocontraception to improve rabies eradication in urban dog populations. Wildlife Research 37: 676–687.
  47. Massei G., Quy R., Gurney J., Cowan D.P. 2010. Can translocations be used to manage human-wildlife conflicts? Wildlife Research 37: 428–439.
  48. Foyle K.L., Delahay R.J., Massei G. 2010. Isolation of Mycobacterium bovis from a feral wild boar (Sus scrofa) in the UK. Veterinary Record 166: 663-664.
  49. Long, D. B., Campbell, T.A., Massei G. 2010. Evaluation of Feral Swine-Specific Feeder Systems. Rangelands 32:8-13.
  50. Massei G., Miller L.A., Killian G.J. 2010. Immunocontraception to control rabies in dog populations. Human-Wildlife Interactions 4:155–157.
  51. Massei G., Coats J., Quy R., Storer K., Cowan D.P. 2010. The BOS (Boar-Operated-System): a novel method to deliver baits to wild boar. Journal of Wildlife Management 74:333-336.
  52. Massei G., Jones A., Platt T., Cowan P 2009. Iophenoxic Acid as Long-term Marker for Wild Boar. Journal of Wildlife Management 73:458-461.
  53. Lambert M., Massei G., Yoder C., Cowan D. 2010.Towards non-lethal management of a non-native avian species: An Evaluation of Diazacon as a Potential Contraceptive in Non-Native Rose-Ringed Parakeets Journal of Wildlife Management 74(3):573–581.
  54. Lambert M., Massei G., Bell J., Berry L., Haigh C., Cowan D. 2009. Reproductive success of captive Rose-ringed parakeets Psittacula krameri in a captive UK population. Pest Management Science 65: 1215–1218.
  55. Cowan D., Massei G. Modelling the population consequences of fertility control: how much fertility control is enough? Proceedings of 3rd International Fertility Control for Wildlife Management Workshop, 25th - 27th February 2009, Lincoln, New Zealand.
  56. Cagnacci F., Massei G. 2008. Monitoring bait uptake in badgers: a pilot study using PIT-tag system and time-lapse video surveillance. Ethology Ecology & Evolution 20: 165-171.
  57. Cowan D. P., Massei G. Wildlife contraception, Individuals and Populations: How Much Fertility Control is Enough? Proceedings 23rd Vetebrate Pest Conference (R.M. Timm and J.M. O’Brien Eds.), University of California Davis.
  58. Massei G., Cowan P., Coats J., Gladwell F., Lane J.E, Miller L.A. 2008. Effect of the GnRH vaccine GonaConTM on the fertility, physiology and behaviour of wild boar. Wildlife Research 35:1-8.
  59. Cagnacci F., Massei G., Cowan D., Delahay R.,Walker N. 2007. Effects of bait type and deployment strategy on uptake by free-living badgers. Wildlife Research. 34:454-460.
  60. Cowan D.P., Massei G., Mellows R. 2006. A Modeling Approach to Evaluating Potential Applications of Emerging Fertility Control Technologies in the UK. Proceedings 22nd Vetebrate Pest Conference (R. M. Timm and J. M. O’Brien, Eds.), Univ. of Calif., Davis: 55-62.
  61. Massei G., Cotterill J.V., Coats, J., Bryning G., Cowan D. 2007. Can Batesian mimicry help plants to deter herbivores? Pest Management Science 63:559-563.
  62. Cagnacci F., Massei G., Coats J., de Leeuw A., Cowan D. 2006. Long lasting systemic bait markers for Eurasian Badgers. Journal of Wildlife Diseases 42:892-896.
  63. Gentle M., Massei G., Quy R. 2006. Diversity of diet influences strength and persistence of conditioned taste aversion in rats. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 97: 303-311.
  64. Massei G., Watkins R., Hartley S.E. 2006. Sex-related allocation to growth and secondary compounds in Juniperus oxycedrus macrocarpa.. Acta Oecologica 29: 135-140.
  65. Cotterill J.V., Massei G., Cowan D. 2006. Masking the taste of the Conditioned Taste Aversion agent levamisole using an ion-exchange resin, for practical application in wildlife management. Pest Management Science 62:120-125.
  66. Cagnacci F., Massei G., Cowan D., Delahay R. 2005. Can learned aversion be used to control bait uptake by Eurasian Badgers? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 92:159-168.
  67. Massei G., Genov P.   The environmental impact of wild boar.  Galemys 16: 135-145.
  68. Gentle M., Massei G., Saunders G. 2004. Levamisole can reduce bait uptake in wild foxes. Mammal Review. 34: 325-330.
  69. Massei G., Lyon A., Cowan D.P. 2003. Levamisole can induce conditioned taste aversion in foxes. Wildlife Research 30: 633 – 637
  70. Massei G., Lyon A., Cowan D.P. Potential compounds for inducing conditioned taste aversion in ferrets. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 30:95-100.
  71. Massei G., Lyon A., Cowan D.P. Conditioned taste aversion can reduce egg predation by rats.  Journal of Wildlife Management 66: 1134-1140.
  72. Massei, Cowan D.P. 2002. Strength and persistence of conditioned taste aversion in rats: evaluation of eleven potential compounds. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 75: 249-260.
  73. Massei G., Hartley S. 2000 Disarmed by domestication? Induced responses to browsing in wild and cultivated olive. Oecologia 122:225-231.
  74. Massei G., Hartley S., Bacon P. 2000. Structural and chemical variation of Mediterranean woody evergreen species: the effects of age, season and browsing by ungulates. Journal of Vegetation Science 11: 1-8.
  75. Leaper R., Massei G., Gorman M., Aspinal R. 1999. The feasibility of reintroducing Wild Boar (Sus Scrofa) to Scotland: Predictions from a Geographical Information System and a Population Viability Analysis. Mammal Review 29: 239-259.
  76. Massei G., Bowyer R.T. 1999. Scent marking in fallow deer: effects of lekking behavior on rubbing and wallowing. Journal of Mammalogy 80: 633-638.
  77. Genov P., Gigantesco P, Massei G. Interactions between black-billed magpie and fallow deer. The Condor 100:177-179.
  78. Massei G., Bacon, Genov P. 1998 . Fallow deer and wild boar pellet group disappearance in a Mediterranean area. Journal of Wildlife Management 60:1086-1094.
  79. Massei G., Genov P. 1998. Fallow deer (Dama dama) winter defecation rate in a Mediterranean area. Journal of Zoology London 245:209-244.
  80. Russo L., Massei G., Genov P.   Daily home range and activity of wild    boar in a Mediterranean area free from human hunting. Ethology Ecology & Evolution 3:287-294.
  81. Patterson I. J. , Massei G., Genov P. The density of cicadas Cicada orni in Mediterranean coastal habitats. Italian Journal of Zoology 64: 141-146.
  82. Massei G., Genov P., Staines B. W., Gorman M. L. 1997. Mortality of wild boar in a Mediterranean area in relation to sex and age. Journal of Zoology London 242: 394-400.
  83. Massei G., Genov P., Staines B. W., Gorman M. L. 1997. Factors influencing home range and activity of wild boar (Sus scrofa) in a Mediterranean coastal area. Journal of Zoology London 242: 411-423
  84. Massei G., Markov G., Genov P. 1997. Morphometric characteristics and growth rate of chamois horn (Rupicapra rupicapra) in Bulgaria. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica 49:20-24.
  85. Massei G., Genov P., Staines B. W. 1996. Diet, food availability and reproduction of wild boar in a Mediterranean coastal area. Acta theriologica 41: 307-320.
  86. Russo L., Genov P., Massei G. Preliminary analysis of daily activity of wild boar in the Maremma Natural Park. Ibex Journal of Mountain Ecology 3:126-128.
  87. Massei G., Genov 1995. Observations of black-billed magpie (Pica pica) and carrion crow (Corvus corone cornix) grooming wild boar (Sus scrofa). Journal of Zoology London 236: 338-341. 
  88. Massei G., Genov P. 1995. Preliminary analysis of factors influencing habitat-use by the wild boar. Ibex JJournal of Mountain Ecology 3:168-170
  89. Genov P., Massei G., Nikolov H.1995. Morphometrical analysis of two Mediterranean wild boar populations. Ibex Journal of Mountain Ecology 3:69-71.
  90. Genov P., Massei G., Kostova V. 1994. Die Nutzung der Wildschweinpopulation in Europa in Theorie und Praxis. (The management of wild boar populations in Europe: theory and practice). Zeitschrift fur Jagdwissenschaft 40: 263-267.
  91. Massei G., Randi E., Genov P. 1994. The dynamics of horn growth in Bulgarian chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica. Acta theriologica 39 195-199.
  92. Massei G., Randi E., Markov G., Genov P. 1993. Multivariate analysis of craniometric characters in Bulgarian chamois. Hystrix 5: 17-29.
  93. Genov P., Nikolov H., Massei G., Gerasimov S.1992. Craniometrical analyses of Bulgarian wild boar populations. Journal of Zoology London 225: 309-325.
  94. Massei G.1994. Pine-tree rubbing by the wild boar. Ecology Ethology & Evolution 32: 17.
  95. Randi E., Massei G.,Genov P.1992. Allozyme variability in Bulgarian wild boar populations. Acta theriologica 37: 271-278.
  96. Massei G., Tonin L. 1992. The management of wild boar in the Maremma Natural Park. Ongulés/ungulates 91, 443-445
  97. Genov P., Massei G., Barbalova Z., Kostova V. 1992. Aging Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) by teeth. Ongulés/ungulates 91, 399-402.
  98. Genov P., Massei G., Ganchev R. 1990. Verbreitung und zahlenmassige Starke der Gemse (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica ) in Bulgarien. (Status and distribution of the chamois in Bulgaria). Zeitschrift fur Jagdwissenschaft 36: 1-8.
  99. Massei G. 2022. A Road-Map for Applications of Wildlife Fertility Control in an Overcrowded Continent. Pathways Europe 2022: Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conference: Sharing landscapes. Wageningen (The Netherlands), 19-21 October.
  100. Casanova P., Massei G. 1986.  The management of roe deer in small forested areas­. Monti e Boschi, 37: 16-21.

Selected communications in conferences and workshops

  1. Massei G. 2022. What we don’t know about wild boar: knowledge gaps and research priorities for an overcrowded world. 13th International Symposiumon Wild Boar and Other Suids. Seva (Spain), 6-9 September (invited keynote).
  2. Massei G. Global wild boar population trends and management. Too many? Fertility control for an overcrowded world: from mice to elephants.Two-day workshop on Wildlife Management Stakeholder Engagement organized by the Singapore National Parks Board.  Singapore, 12-13 August (invited).
  3. Massei G., Boyles Griffin S. 2022. Fertility control for an overcrowded world: from mice to elephants. 7th International Conference on Rodent Biology and Management. Arusha (Tanzania), 5-8 July (invited)
  4. Massei G. 2022. Fertility control to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts and promote coexistence. UFAW International Conference: Advancing Animal Welfare Science. Edinburgh (UK), 28-29 June. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_klXAeOpsec see talk at 1hour: 37 minutes.
  5. Massei G., Koon K.K., To J., Pinkham R., Chan J., Vial F., Gomm , Eckery D.C. 2022. Fertility control to manage feral cattle in Hong Kong. 9th International Conference on Wildlife Fertility Control. Colorado Springs (CO, USA), 23-25 May https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2BHEUJv4eA (invited)
  6. Massei G., Franzetti, Croft S. 2019. Too many wild pigs? Effects of different approaches on population management. Pathways Human Dimentions of Willdife. Estes Park (CO, USA), 22-26 September (invited)
  7. Beatham S., Pinkham R., Aegerter J., Gomm M., Coats J., Vial F., Croft S., Stephens P., Fouracre D., Massei G. Delivering oral contraceptives to grey squirrels: novel methods to assess bait uptake and spatial behaviour of small mammal population. 12th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference. Clermont-Ferrand (France), 9-13 September.
  8. Pinkham R., Beatham S., Aegerter J., Gomm M., D. Eckery, R. Mauldin, Coats J., Vial F., Massei G. A three million challenge: delivering oral contraceptives to grey squirrels. 12th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference. Clermont-Ferrand (France), 9-13 September.
  9. Massei G., Boyles-Griffin S. 2018. Promoting Fertility Control to Mitigate Human-Wildlife Conflicts. Pathways in Europe Conference. Goslar (Germany), 16-19 September (invited).
  10. Massei G., Koon K., Law S., Gomm M. Mora D.S.O., Callaby R., Palphramand K., Eckery D.C. 2018. Non-lethal Management Of Feral Livestock: Fertility Control For Free-living Cattle In Hong Kong. 25th The Wildlife Society conference. Cleaveland (USA), 7-11 October (invited).
  11. Massei G. Mitigating human-wildlife conflicts in an overcrowded continent: is fertility control a solution? International Union of Game Biologists. Montpellier (France), 22-25 August (invited keynote).
  12. Massei G. Fertility control to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in an overcrowded world: an overview 8th International Conference on Wildlife Fertility Control. Washington (USA), 18-21 July (invited plenary lecture).
  13. Massei G., Chauvenet A., Ward A., Gill R. 2016. Estimating wild boar population size: camera traps or distance sampling? 11th International Symposium on Wild Boar and Other Suids. Luxembourg, 5-7 September (invited).
  14. Massei G. Fertility control, translocations and hunting to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts in Europe using wild boar as a model species. 3rd National Conference of Problematic Wildlife, Cesena (Italy) 24-26th November (invited).
  15. Ward J., Massei G., Smith G. 2015. Impact of disease transmission mode on rabies eradication through the use of canine vaccination and fertility control. British Ecological Society. Edinburgh (UK), 13-16 December.
  16. Massei G., Parrott D. 2014. Challenges and opportunities for lethal and non-lethal management of non-native ungulates in the OTs: feral pigs, goats and cows. Overseas Territories Group Conference: Lessons to be Learnt from Invasive Species Mitigation and Management in the British Overseas Territories. London (UK), 16 December (invited).
  17. Massei G. Wild boar ecology and population trends. Pig Veterinary Society (PVS) conference, Leeds (UK), 12-13 November (invited).
  18. Massei G., Kindberg, Licoppe A., Gačić D., Šprem N., Kamler J., Baubet E., Hohmann U., Monaco A., Ozoliņš J., Cellina S., Podgórski T., Fonseca C., Markov N., Pokorny B., Rosell C., Náhlik A. 2014. Wild boar populations up, number of hunters down? a European perspective. 10th International Symposium on Wild Boar and Other Suids. Velenje (Slovenia), 1-5 September (invited plenary)
  19. Massei G. Estimating wild boar presence, population size and population trends 11th European Wildlife Disease Association Conference. Edinburgh (UK), 25-29 August.
  20. Massei G. Fertility control and translocations to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts. 9th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference. Turku (Finland) 22-27 September 2013. (invited plenary).
  21. Massei G., Fagerstone, I.P. Dhakal, U. Dahal, M. Gomm, K. Sharma. 2013. Testing GonaCon for female dogs in Nepal: preliminary results. 5th symposium Alliance for Contraception of Cats and Dogs. Portland (USA), 20-23 June (invited).
  22. Massei G. A roadmap to using contraceptives for dog population management. 5th symposium Alliance for Contraception of Cats and Dogs. Portland (USA), 20-23 June (invited).
  23. Massei G. A. Miller. 2012. Non-surgical sterilisation: the tip of the iceberg for dog population management. 1st International Conference on Dog Population Management. York (UK), 4-8 September.
  24. Smith G., Massei G. The role of ecologists and evidence-based information in dog population management. 1st International Conference on Dog Population Management. York (UK), 4-8 September.
  25. Massei G., Cowan D., Miller L. 2011. Fertility control for wildlife in Europe: applications for an overcrowded continent. European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference. Berlin (Germany) 26-30 September (invited).
  26. Massei G., Smith G., Cowan D. Carroll M. The use of immunocontraception to improve rabies eradication in urban dog populations. OIE Global Conference on Rabies Control. Incheon (Republic of Korea), 7-9 September (invited).
  27. Massei G. From catch-neuter-release to catch-inject-release: immunocontraception as alternative to surgical sterilisation for free-roaming dogs. OIE Global Conference on Rabies Control. Incheon, (Republic of Korea), 7-9 September
  28. Massei G., Meslin F.X. Management of dog populations and rabies through immunocontraception. FAO-WSPA-WHO Expert Meeting on Dog Population Management. Banna (Italy), 14-18 March. (invited)
  29. Massei G. Too many pigs? population trends and control methods for wild boar and feral pigs. 2010. International Wild Pig Conference. Pensacola (USA), 11-13 April.
  30. Bunting R., Massei G.. Rogers-R., Roy S., Millett J. 2010. Feral Pigs and Volcanoes: a Hot Topic. International Wild Pig Conference. Pensacola (USA), 11-13 April.
  31. Massei G. Management of free-roaming dogs around the world: why non-lethal is best. The Wildlife Society. Monterey (USA), 20-24 September.
  32. Massei G., Cowan D., Coats J., Miller L. 2009. Fertility control for wild boar: from individuals to populations. 3rd International Fertility Control for Wildlife Management Workshop. Lincoln (New Zealand), 25-27 February.
  33. Massei G., Cowan D., Carroll M., Smith G. 2009.Modelling fertility control to improve eradication of rabies in urban dog populations3rd International Fertility Control for Wildlife Management Workshop. Lincoln (New Zealand), 25-27 February.
  34. Massei G., Lambert M., Yoder C., Cowan D. 2009.DiazaCon as a potential contraceptive in rose-ringer parakeets3rd International Fertility Control for Wildlife Management Workshop. Lincoln (New Zealand), 25-27 February.
  35. Massei G., Cowan D., Miller L. Effectiveness and potential side effects of the immuno- contraceptive vaccine GonaConTM on the wild boar.National Conference on Feral Hog. St.Louis (USA), 13-15 April.
  36. Massei G., Cowan D., Quy R., Coats J. 2008. The BOS (Boar-Operated-System): a novel method to deliver baits to wild boar. National Conference on Feral Hog. St.Louis (USA), 13-15 April.
  37. Massei G., Killian G. & Miller L. A. 2008. Immunocontraception to control dog populations. WHO-OIE Intercountry Expert Workshop on protecting humans from domestic and wildlife rabies in the Middle East. Amman (Jordan), 23-25 June.
  38. Massei G. The environmental impact of wild boar. International symposium on wild boar. Sopron (Hungary) 28-30 August.
  39. Massei G., Fico R., Miller L. 2008. Immunocontraception to control roaming dog populations. 2nd OIE Global Conference on Animal Welfare. Cairo (Egypt), 20-22 October.
  40. Smith G., Singer A., Carroll M., Riddhiraksa N., Massei G. Fertility control to improve eradication of rabies in urban dog populations: a modelling approach. Southern and Eastern African Rabies Group (SEARG) Meeting. Gaborone (Botswana), 25-28 August.
  41. Massei G., Cowan D., Miller L. 2007. Fertility control to manage wild boar using the GnRH vaccine GonaConTM . 6th International Conference on Fertility Control for Wildlife, York (UK) 3-5 September.
  42. Massei G., Cowan D., Yoder C., Lambert M. 2007. Evaluating the effectiveness of two avian contraceptives in Rose-ringed parakeets (Psittacula krameri). 6th International Conference on Fertility Control for Wildlife. York (UK), 3-5 September.
  43. Bunting R., Massei G., Quy R. & Coats J. 2007. Developing bait to deliver vaccines to wild boar. Mammal Society Easter Conference. Cirencester (UK) 13-15 April.
  44. Massei G., Cowan D.P. & Miller L. A. 2006. Fertility control in wild boar using a GnRH vaccine: effects on physiology and behaviour. 12th Wildlife Damage Management Conference, Corpus Christi (USA), 9-12 April.
  45. Massei G., Cowan D.P. & Miller L. A. 2006. Fertility control to manage wild boar: a viable option? 6th Conference Wild Boar. Cyprus, 23-29 October.

Books

Massei G. & S. Toso,1993. The biology of the wild boar. Documenti tecnici INFS  n. 5.

Massei G. & Genov P. 2000. The natural history of the wild boar. Edagricole-Calderini, Bologna  189 pp.

Book chapters

  1. Jori F., Massei G., Licoppe A., Ruiz-Fons F., Linden A., Václavek P., Chenais E., Rosell C. 2021. Management of wild boar populations in EU countries before and during the ASF crisis. In Iacolina, L; Gavier-Widén, D;  Jori, F; Bellini, S.; Montoya, M; Chenais, E and Ståhl, K. (Editors), Understanding and combatting African Swine Fever.  An European perspective. Wageningen Academic Publishers
  2. Náhlik A., Massei G., Cahill S., Cellina S., Gál J., Jánoska F., Rosell C., Rossi S. 2018. Wild boar management in Europe: a review of implications and trends. In: Ecology, Evolution and Management of Wild Pigs and Peccaries. Implications for Conservation. ( Melleti & E. Meijaard Eds.), Cambridge University Press.
  3. Massei G., Cowan P., Eckery D. E. Novel Management Methods: Immunocontraception and Other Fertility Control Tools. 2014. In: Behaviour and Management of European Ungulates. Putman R. & Apollonio M. Eds, Whittles Publishing, Dunbeath, UK, 209-235 pp.
  4. Massei G. Fertility control in dogs. In:  Dogs, Zoonoses and Public Health, C.N.L. Macpherson, F.X. Meslin, A.I. Wandeler (Eds.), CABI International: 259-270.
  5. Carter S.P., Roy S.S., Cowan D.P., Massei G., Smith G.C., Ji W., Rossi S., Woodroffe R., Wilson G.J., Delahay R.J. 2008. Options for the control of disease 2: targeting hosts. In: Management of Disease in Wild Mammals (RJ Delahay, GC Smith & MR Hutchings Eds.),

In addition: ~80 communications in conferences proceedings.

Symposia/workshops/conferences organised

2022     Main organiser of session Fertility Control for wildlife at Pathways Europe 2022: Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conference Theme: Sharing landscapes. 19-21 October. Wageningen (The Netherlands)

2012     Main organiser of 1st International Conference on Dog Population Management. York, UK, 4-8 September 2012.

2011     8th European Vertebrate Pest Management Conference, Berlin, Germany 26-30 September 2011. Invited to co-chair workshop on Fertility control for wildlife.

2010   Main organiser of 8th International Symposium on wild boar and other suids. York, UK, 1-4 September 2010.

2009  16th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society (Monterey, California) September 2009. Co-chaired workshop  on Non-lethal methods to manage wildlife

2007  5th European Congress of Mammalogy, Siena 21-26 September 2007. Chaired session on Non-lethal methods to manage wildlife.

 

Teaching

Other teaching

Teaching and tutoring experience

Designed and delivered seminars and lectures on wildlife management and animal behaviour for undergraduate and graduate students on wildlife management.

1992-to date Supervised BSc, MSc and PhD students of Florence and Milan Universities (Italy), Durham, Sheffield and York Universities (UK), Barcelona University (Spain) and Raipur University (Nepal). Invited as external PhD examiner for students in Canada, South Africa, Australia and UK.

1995-to date invited lectures at the Universities of Fairbanks (USA), Ben-Gurion (Israel), Milan, Florence, Rome (Italy), York, Aberdeen, Hull, Nottingham, Durham, Newcastle, Sussex (UK) and at the National Institute for Wildlife Biology  (Italy)

1994 Designed and delivered course in ecology and animal behaviour (70 hours) at tertiary level in Italy

1993 Designed and delivered seminars for undergraduates on study design and test for comparing resource availability and use University of Urbino, Italy  

1992 Seminars on ecology of the wild boar, University of Urbino, Italy.

1991 Lecturer in an undergraduate course on Ungulate Biology and Ecology, National Institute for Wildlife Biology, Bologna

External activities

Overview

Professional experience and grants awarded

2021 to present Europe Director of the Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control and Senior Research Fellow at the University of York, UK

1998 to 2022 Senior Researcher and Mammal Discipline Leader, Animal & Plant Health Agency, UK (full time till 2021, part time 2021-2022)

2005 Visiting scientist at the University of Aveiro, Portugal

1998 Visiting scientist at the Ben-Gurion University, Israel

1997 Visiting scientist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA

1996-1998 European Marie-Curie Fellowship post-doc on chemical mediation of plant-herbivore interaction Mediterranean ecosystems: modelling vegetation responses to ungulate browsing intensity in

1994-1996 Senior Research Fellowship, University of Siena, Italy

1996 Contract for a feasibility study on the conservation status of the roe deer in the Pollino National Park

1994-1995 Contract with the Institute of Animal Health-Ministry of Public Health (Italy) on factors associated with the spread of swine fever

1993 Research Fellowship, Maremma Natural Park

1991 Scholarship (Italian Ministry of Education) for a PhD in ecology at Aberdeen University, UK

1991 Grant (Maremma Natural Park) to support the study on wild boar ecology

1989-1990 Scholarship (Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs) for research on the status and morphometrics of chamois at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia (Bulgaria)

1988 Scholarship (National Research Council) for a study on craniometry of wild boar at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (Bulgaria).

A profile photograph of Giovanna Massei

Contact details

Dr Giovanna Massei
Senior Research Fellow and Europe Director of the Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control
Department of Environment & Geography
University of York
Heslington
York
YO10 5NG

https://wildlifefertilitycontrol.org/biwfc-europe/