Kath Tuft and Hugh McGregor's legacy at Arid Recovery

Chief Executive Kath Tuft and her husband Hugh McGregor have spent nearly a decade contributing to Arid Recovery’s conservation and research efforts. From managing predators to mentoring young ecologists, their work has made a lasting impact. As they move on, they reflect on bilbies, resilience, and the ongoing fight to protect Australia’s wildlife

Nestled in the heart of South Australia’s arid zone, Arid Recovery has been a haven for endangered species and innovative conservation for 28 years. As two of its long-standing contributors, Chief Executive, Kath Tuft and her husband, cat researcher Hugh McGregor, now Field Ecologist for Nature Foundation, prepare to say goodbye after almost nine years at this organisation. Their reflections offer an intimate look at what makes this place extraordinary and why it holds a special place in their hearts.

Why Arid Recovery is special?

Both Hugh and Kath are unequivocal in their admiration for Arid Recovery. “You can just get out and do research that no other organisation can,” Hugh explains. “There’s nowhere else in Australia where you can put cats and bilbies in the same paddock or experimentally remove rabbits to see how cats respond. The infrastructure, organisational structure, and ethos of Arid Recovery make it unique. you can answer some of the best research questions in Australia, that you just cannot answer anywhere else."

“The best science happens here, and it’s been amazing to be part of that.” – Kath

Kath shares this sentiment. “Arid Recovery is special to me for so many reasons. I’ve met my husband here—we bonded over bilbies,” she smiles. “And the best science happens here. It’s been so cool to be part of that. And the desert is amazing, watching it change over time. Come to life after rain, and then go really low in a drought. It's all part of the cycle. That's special too.”

Kath and Hugh's last Christmas pageant. 

Challenges and achievements

Hugh recounts some of the most thrilling aspects of his work. “There have been so many incredible chases, running down cats, running down bilbies. It’s hard to name just one,” he laughs. But beyond the excitement, his achievements lie in the quieter moments: catching incursion rabbits, reinforcing fences, and ensuring cat control contributes to the daily protection of bilbies.“Often, cat control in Australia has little effect. But here, every trap contributes to a boundary fence that protects bilbies every day. That feels damn good. If the staff were away, I’d volunteer to look after cat traps for a week, knowing it kept the cats away. That’s the kind of work that matters.”
 
When Hugh was asked, what does he want people to know about conservation, the answer was easy for him. “It’s not about killing cats; it’s about saving wildlife,” he said. “Cats and foxes are the greatest threat to most of our small mammals.” Hugh explained the critical importance of responsible cat management. “Killing cats in a controlled way is about the only thing that's saving most of our animals from complete extinction.” While this work may seem gruesome to some, Hugh believes that “the vast majority of Australia gets [the damage cats have on our wildlife], but I just want more people to get it.”
 
Kath’s proudest moments include bringing the kowari to Arid Recovery. “Starting the process to bring them here was one of my proudest achievements. It took time, but we got there. We had to mobilise the resourcing with justification. It has been really special to bring them here, and be part of their wider conservation through the recovery team and Team Kowari.”

One of Kath's proudest moments was reintroducing the kowari to Arid Recovery. 

Running the organisation has been a crash course in leadership for Kath. “I’ve learned how to manage teams, have productive but difficult conversations, and make decisions with courage. It’s been hard but incredibly rewarding. It’s taught me to be comfortable not having all the answers, to learn from the landscape, and to admit when we’ve made mistakes.”

Family and personal connections

For both Hugh and Kath, Arid Recovery has also been a family affair. Their two sons have grown up in this unique environment, trapping bilbies and bettongs, and forming personal connections with the animals. “It’s been the greatest treat ever,” Hugh says. “They’ve seen kowaris, gone out trapping at 4 am, and built a connection that’s so rare for kids today.”

“My boys have grown up trapping bilbies and bettongs. That personal connection is rare and special.” – Hugh

Kath echoes this sentiment. “Seeing them grow up here has been a joy. They come out trapping, explore the reserve, and call this place their backyard. That’s a gift,” she says. “It’s special to share this with them.”

Hugh has even dragged the boys out fencing. “Admittedly, they weren't super useful, but I think they got a lot out of it.”
Arid Recovery is the McGregor-Tuft boys backyard \

Hopes for the future

Reflecting on the future of conservation, both Hugh and Kath express cautious optimism.
 
“Hope got us to this point where almost every critically endangered mammal now has a safe haven.We are now looking at how do we get the bilbies outside the fence? That’s a daunting task,” Hugh explains. “I’m not worried we’ll lose bilbies— I am worried that we are not going to bring them back to their former range. I am not sure if hope is enough, you might need [new technology that can control] cats.” Still, Hugh envisions a future where native animals are a natural part of everyday life. With the township of Roxby Downs just 20 km from the Reserve, he says, “I’d love to have quolls running around on people’s roofs.”

The hope is that one day western quolls will roam further than just Arid Recovery

Kath sees hope as a choice and a driver for action. “I do subscribe to hope because it is an attitude,” she says. “It’s naive to expect the world to give us the energy to act. We have to choose to bring that energy. For me, staying active and focusing on what I can do is what sustains me. There are some things that you can't do, and you have to develop a degree of peace in yourself with that. However, there's lots we can do, and that is where I put my energy.” She continues, “Use your time on the planet to do what you can and get on with it.”
 
Partnerships also play a key role in Kath’s vision for the future. “I’d love to see our influence expand, especially in partnership with traditional owner groups like the Arabana and Kokatha mob. Those partnerships are already happening, and they’re crucial,” she says.

“Use your time on the planet to do what you can and get on with it.” — Kath

In 2023, the Arabana Rangers came to Arid Recovery to learn how to pitfall trap

A legacy of learning

Arid Recovery has long been a place for training and mentoring future conservationists, a mission that both Kath and Hugh are deeply passionate about. “Nothing happens without people,” Kath emphasised. “Building capacity in humans is just as important as protecting the animals. It’s about passing on skills and creating pathways for others to carry the work forward.” Under Kath’s tenure, Arid Recovery supported over twenty interns, with many going on to have successful careers in environmental industries or pursing higher degrees.
 
Hugh is a prime example of the reserve’s role as a training ground for not only bettongs, but for people too. "I'm a good example," he said. "Arid Recovery is an early incubator, it’s a brilliant place to get out, gain skills, and learn. You can work in a government organisation managing millions of hectares, which is extremely important work, but they never actually get to see a bilby, or handle a cat trap, or conduct some of the research you want."

Hugh learnt so many skill at Arid Recoveyr, including cat trapping

Hugh highlighted the unique opportunities Arid Recovery provides for skill development. "I learned so many skills here that I couldn’t have learned on the job elsewhere. Even during my PhD, I knew how to trap cats because of my time at Arid Recovery, when other people did not know how to. I also knew how to handle animals. It’s hard to train these skills in most cases. But, at Arid Recovery, you get to do bloody cool work and get hands-on experience in an organisation that has always taught best practice—taking animal welfare seriously and focusing on effective trapping. You’re learning the most effective ways to do things." Hugh has shown that those practical skill you learn at Arid Recovery stick with you throughout your career.

Thank You, Kath and Hugh

The contributions of Kath Tuft and Hugh McGregor to Arid Recovery will be felt well into the future. Together, they have combined leadership, research, and a profound passion for conservation to leave an indelible mark on the organisation and its mission. As they step into their next chapter, we wish them both the best and thank them for their incredible impact on conservation and the Arid Recovery community.





Photo Credits: Ines Badman and Jack Bilby