Few animals tug at Australian hearts like the koala. Yet the marsupial, once common along the eastern seaboard, was declared endangered in New South Wales (NSW) in 2022. Habitat loss, climate stress, and disease have driven populations down so far that a parliamentary inquiry warned they could vanish from the state before 2050. The proposed […]
Category: Wildlife
Twelve whales have been tangled in shark nets off Queensland’s coast so far this year. Here’s why
Scientists say a flourishing whale population that is swimming closer to shore and into the path of shark nets is contributing to the 50% increase in entanglements off Queensland’s coast this year. Nine entanglements involving 12 whales have already occurred this year, compared with six on average, many off the Sunshine Coast. Eight whales were […]
Cheetah cubs rescued from illegal trade in “one of the largest confiscations” of the endangered species, conservationist says
Eleven cheetah cubs were rescued from illegal trade in Somaliland in what a conservationist described on Thursday as “one of the largest confiscations of the species.” The cubs were packed in bags that resembled sacks of potatoes and were being transported in a small dhow off the Somaliland coast at Berbera when the local coast […]
Urban appetite for lemur meat piles pressure on iconic primates
ANTANANARIVO — Ninety-five percent of lemur species are threatened by habitat loss, hunting and climate change. The direct threat is often understood to result from the actions of poor rural communities, but a forthcoming study has found that thousands of threatened lemurs are being hunted and killed every year to feed a lucrative urban market […]
Floating nests and decoys: how fairy terns are being charmed back to Port Phillip Bay
It’s an attractive piece of real estate – coastal living in a safe neighbourhood with waterfront views, 55km south-west of Melbourne. The floating island, installed at the Avalon coastal reserve on the western side of Port Phillip Bay, features sand and shell grit floorings, and twigs and branches for cozy nooks. It has been specially […]
Watch terrifying, close up footage of a great white shark stalking a lone, vulnerable spear fisherman deep in the ocean
Great white sharks can reach lengths of up to 6.4 m and weigh as much as 2,041 kg. This powerful swimmer can travel long distances with ease but is also capable of short bursts of speed, reaching up to around 50 kph – making any encounter in the water a terrifying prospect. The great white shark is a […]
Record Whale Entanglements Show Urgent Need for Ocean Protection
The number of whales caught in fishing gear along U.S. coasts hit an alarming record in 2024, highlighting how human activity continues to endanger marine life. According to the Los Angeles Times, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) confirmed 95 cases of whales entangled in fishing lines, nets, buoys, and anchor ropes last year. […]
‘So tiny and so vulnerable’: what chance will one of Australia’s smallest birds have against a rocket launchpad?
The southern emu-wren, one of Australia’s smallest birds, weighs just seven grams, about as much as two teaspoons of water. More tail than bird, its six upright tail feathers make up more than half its length and the males have a distinctive sky-blue patch of feathers on their upper chest and throat. But conservationists say […]