Felixer FAQs
Background
Why do feral cats require control?
Why develop a grooming trap for cats?
What is Thylation?
Thylation is a group of 3 Australian companies created to commercialise Felixers and potentially other environmental inventions. The group consists of Thylation Limited (trading as Thylation Foundation), Thylation Operations Pty Ltd and Thylation R&D Pty Ltd.
More information on the About Us page.
Do Felixers affect other carnivores?
What conditions are required to trial or operate Felixers?
Use of agricultural chemicals, including toxins, in Australia is governed by the Australian Pesticide and Medical Veterinary Association (APVMA). Because Felixers use a new technique to administer toxins, all use of Felixers armed with toxin must currently be covered under a restricted use APVMA research permit (issued to Ecological Horizons), which provides deployment, signage and reporting requirements. New trial sites can be approved by State or regional biosecurity officers.
Where are Felixers currently being trialled?
Field trials of Felixers have been underway since 2015 and are currently underway in all Australian States and Territories, targeting threatened species including bilbies, bettongs, rock wallabies, western and northern quolls, malleefowl and rare dunnarts and rodents. Some of these trials are in photo-only mode whilst permission for loading with 1080 is received. Trials have been conducted or supported by 5 government environment bodies, 4 environmental NGOs, 2 indigenous ranger groups and 4 mining companies.
How are data accessed and analysed?
Felixers take a photograph every time their sensors are intercepted, whether set in photo-only mode or in live fire mode, and the images are classified as target or nontarget by the Felixer algorithm. Also included is a detailed data log of key attributes (date, time, battery power, lure played, detailed sensor activation, temperature etc) that are used for analyses, diagnostics and performance optimisation. Felixers therefore operate as both a management tool and a sophisticated camera trap monitoring device. Data are stored on a USB that is also used to upgrade software. Thylation have developed the web-based Felixer Management System that uploads and stores all data, with specific access provisions provided to site managers and the overall Felixer management team. These data are then used to compile site-based statistics and also overall performance and target specificity information for the national trial.
Results
Results from the most comprehensive trials conducted to date at Venus Bay CP, Secret Rocks Nature Reserve, Kangaroo Island and Arid Recovery suggest that Felixers provide a target specific and safe tool for feral cat management as summarised in a scientific paper published by Wildlife Society Bulletin. The first comprehensive efficacy trial conducted at Arid Recovery in early 2018 successfully targeted 72 cats (but no bilbies, birds, quolls, rabbits, bettongs and only one nontarget kangaroo) and detected a 66% reduction in feral cat activity in 2 months and will be published in a forthcoming volume of Wildlife Research. Updates from other trials will be posted on this website.
Do Felixers require any maintenance or servicing?
It’s still relatively early days for field trials but we don’t anticipate regular servicing will be required except for cleaning sensors and the solar panel with a cloth after rain or dust storms and checking on the solar panel positioning and connections, especially after storms. If Felixers are not set (in sunny conditions) for extended periods it is important to connect them to the battery charger to maintain the battery. Occasional software updates can be made by uploading from the USB. The User Manual contains detailed instructions on tests, diagnostics and software upgrades.
V3.1 cost
The current version 3.1 are available for pre-order. Additionally, gel cartridges can be ordered separately upon receipt of 1080 permits from end users. Additional costs associated with freight, training, support for approvals and ongoing support will be determined on a case by case scenario. Contact us to receive a quote that aligns with your needs.
Can the Felixer be rented?
Felixers are available for min. 3 month lease. Please note that there is limited availability of rental units. We are slowly growing our rental/lease pool of Felixers, please let us know if this is option is of interest to you.
Terms and conditions
Until broadscale registration is received, which is anticipated by mid 2021, Felixers can only be operated with toxins if approved by the APVMA and State or Territory 1080 authorities. Potential Felixer users should also check whether Animal Ethics &/or Scientific Research permits are required for participation in these research trials. Users also need to provide core data to Thylation to satisfy reporting agreements, albeit with appropriate masking of any site-specific sensitive information and recognition of participant contributions.
Further information
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