The African Penguin, once numbering in the millions, has now dwindled to fewer than 9,900 breeding pairs, raising fears it could vanish within a decade. Conservationists warn that overfishing of sardines and anchovies, combined with habitat loss and predators, is driving the species toward extinction. At Stony Point colony near Cape Town, researchers are working […]
Saltwater crocodile found with mouth zip-tied shut in Adelaide River, sparking calls for stronger penalties
Alexander “Wookie” Williams is a tour guide at one of the Top End’s most iconic waterways, showcasing both the region’s natural environment and the creatures that call it home. But on a recent tour, Wookie spotted something unusual on the Adelaide River, near Darwin — a 2-metre juvenile saltwater crocodile, dubbed Jiminy by guides, with […]
Australia to create a national park for 12,000 koalas
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 […]
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 […]