The cane toad is a large and highly toxic amphibian. It’s considered one of the world’s most destructive invasive species after being introduced to countries across the globe as a biological control against insect ‘pests’ on sugar-cane crops, hence its common name. These introductions were largely unsuccessful, particularly in Australia. Find out everything you need […]
More plastic, less glow? Pollution threatens deep sea’s bioluminescent life, experts warn
Plastic pollution could disrupt the bioluminescent light produced by deep-sea organisms, researchers warn in a letter in the journal Cambridge Prisms: Plastics. When deep-sea organisms ingest plastics, it could disrupt the chemical pathways that create bioluminescence and damage the tissues in their bodies, impairing their ability to find food and a mate, the authors said. […]
Butterflies are extremely hard to catch – and scientists just uncovered their secret weapon
Butterflies are known for the striking and often colourful patterns on their wings – but they’re not just there to look pretty. According to new research, a butterfly’s flight and wing pattern work together to create powerful visual illusions that help them evade predators. The study was conducted by scientists from the University of Exeter […]
Rare northern bald ibises take flight in human-led European migration project
Fifteen new birds have joined a growing flock of bald ibises in northern Spain, guided there by human migration guides in micro aircraft who helped them along the route. The birds are part of the growing European flock of the northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita), the charismatic and frankly extraordinary bird that had been extinct […]
There are green birds, reptiles and fish – so why are there no green mammals? The strange reason almost all mammals are brown
Look around you and you’ll see many green animals. There are green insects, green fish, green reptiles, and green birds, but there are no green mammals – why is that? In a predominantly green world, being green seems like it would have its perks, especially if you’re trying to avoid the gaze of a hungry […]
Wildlife traffickers are now targeting Indonesia’s critically endangered maleo birds
Maleos, black-and-white birds that stand 60 centimeters (2 feet) tall with a distinctive splash of blue, orange and yellow on their faces, roam Sulawesi’s thick tropical jungles. But when it’s time to lay their eggs, they arrive at communal nesting grounds: Sandy beaches heated by the sun or the earth’s geothermal energy. There, they dig […]
Quoll-ity Breeding Documentary
For anyone in Australia who may be interested, SBS Australia will be showcasing the documentary QUOLL-ITY BREEDING on SBS On Demand from 1 December 2026.
“He stopped, looked at me, snorted – and charged. I turned and ran, but was unceremoniously catapulted by the irate beast”
What’s the most dangerous animal in China? The internet tells me it’s the Chinese cobra, but my own rather hair-raising research suggests that it is a seldom seen and poorly known species known as the takin, says Jonathan Eames. It all started in the Qinling Mountains in the north-west of the country, where I was […]