I am Olaoluwa John Ademola, PhD, a wildlife ecologist and Lecturer in the Department of Zoology at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, and co-founder of RodentPlus Conservation Initiative (RPCI), a Nigerian organisation working at the intersection of wildlife conservation, animal welfare, and One Health.

My research and professional work focus on small-mammal ecology and conservation, humane rodent management, animal welfare, and the links between wildlife, agriculture, and public health. Through RodentPlus, I work with researchers, veterinarians, conservation practitioners, students, farmers, and communities to develop practical approaches that reduce unnecessary harm to rodents while addressing legitimate public-health, agricultural, and conservation needs.

A major area of my current work is developing alternatives to conventional rodenticide-based control, including fertility-control approaches for rodents associated with disease transmission and agricultural damage. I am particularly interested in approaches that can be scientifically evaluated, practically implemented, and adapted to the realities of low- and middle-income countries.

I also conduct field research on threatened and poorly studied African small mammals, including work on montane rodents and shrews in Nigeria. This work combines biodiversity surveys, ecological research, community engagement, and conservation planning. I see animal welfare and wildlife conservation as complementary fields: effective conservation should consider not only populations and ecosystems, but also the welfare consequences of the interventions used to manage animals.

My broader goal is to build evidence, partnerships, and practical tools that make rodent management more humane and sustainable while contributing to biodiversity conservation and public health. I am particularly interested in opportunities where emerging technologies, interdisciplinary research, and animal welfare can be brought together to address neglected problems at scale.