Kaori Yokochi

Kaori Yokochi is a wildlife ecologist at Deakin University, interested in how wildlife and people can live alongside each other in our towns and cities. Her research focuses on the challenges wildlife face in built environments including disruptions associated with roads, artificial light and noise. Her work has explored how urbanisation and light pollution affect bat communities, finding safer ways for wildlife to cross roads, how human activity influences the way mammals respond to danger, and the impacts of common rat poisons on native wildlife. She is also passionate about helping the public better understand urban wildlife, especially often misunderstood bats.

With more than 15 years of university teaching experience, she also teaches wildlife conservation and environmental science, with passion to inspire the next generation of conservation biologists and support students through inclusive, evidence-based teaching.