I am a DPhil student supervised by Dr Ricardo Rocha and Dr Diogo Veríssimo. My work addresses one of the most contentious issues in conservation: the impact and management of free-roaming cats and dogs.

My doctoral research investigates the competition between domestic cats and the endangered leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis) in Taiwan, evaluating how human activities may intensify this competition. Additionally, acknowledging that human attitudes and actions are pivotal to successful management, my work also involves designing behavioural interventions to address the practices that exacerbate this problem.

I earned my BSc and MSc in Forestry from National Taiwan University. My MSc work was Taiwan’s first national-scale study highlighting the threats of free-roaming dogs on wildlife, providing an evidence-based framework needed to inform more effective national management policies. Contrary to a prevailing belief promoted by some animal welfare groups in Taiwan, my research revealed that the sympatry of wildlife and dogs does not imply a lack of threats. Instead, habitat dependency prevents native species from shifting their realised niches to avoid these threats, indicating that the ecological impacts of dogs are more severe than previously recognised.

As a certified environmental educator, I am also a dedicated science communicator and advocate. During my master’s, I co-led the reform of campus stray dog management at NTU, which overturned the university’s previous ineffective TNR-based (Trap-Neuter-Return) strategy. I was also part of the team that initiated Walk for Wildlife, Taiwan’s first rally advocating for more effective management of free-roaming domestic carnivores, which mobilised over 4,000 participants. Furthermore, I am an active science communicator with extensive experience in school-based outreach, public advocacy, and media engagement across both podcast and news platforms.

By providing robust scientific evidence and designing effective behavioural intervention strategies, I aim to better protect native species from the threats of cats and dogs. My research is currently financially supported by the Taiwanese Government, the Department of Biology, and Balliol College, Oxford.