Tense competition is brewing between the greater glider and the koala in Australia’s marsupial of the year vote but there are hopes a silky tailed species that “mates themselves to death” could win over voters and maybe even save it from heading towards extinction. Network Ten’s The Project launched the competition in collaboration with organisations […]
Tag: marsupials
Horrific discovery of up to 84 dead kangaroos with severe wounds after being mowed down by a car at Gobarup in central Victoria
At least 84 kangaroos have been found dead with gunshot wounds and traumatic injuries from being mowed down by a vehicle in regional Victoria. The conservation regulator is investigating after at least 65 dead juvenile and adult eastern grey kangaroos were found in Gobarup in central Victoria. About 19 more kangaroos were found dead suffering […]
How Wombats and Their Burrows Offer Refuge to Animals During Wildfires
In the wake of Australia’s catastrophic 2019-2020 Black Summer wildfires, a fascinating ecological discovery was made regarding the burrows of wombats. While initial reports inaccurately claimed wombats were herding other animals to safety, the reality, though less dramatic, revealed a vital role these creatures play in supporting biodiversity during such disasters. Source: Wicked Wildlife/YouTube […]
Australian state fails on koala conservation while relying on faulty offset schemes, experts say
In the leadup to his election as Premier of New South Wales, Chris Minns promised the establishment of a Great Koala National Park in the Australian state as part of the Labor government’s agenda to protect the endangered koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). One year later, the park is still not established and native woodland logging is […]
Australian Marsupials Fear Humans Far More Than Any Other Predator, New Study Shows
Paramount fear of humans has been demonstrated to pervade wildlife communities in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America consistent with humans worldwide being a super predator, far more lethal than other predators. Australian marsupials have been thought predator naïve based on responses to non-human predators. “Our results greatly expand the growing experimental evidence that wildlife […]
Male Marsupials Cannibalize To Fuel 14-Hour, Death-Inducing Mating Sessions
Tiny Australian mammals have been observed eating each other during grueling 14-hour mating sessions, that ultimately result in the males’ death. The bizarre behavior was first observed by Sunshine Coast Council employee Elliot Bowerman, who had been on a hike in the New England National Park at the time, an article on The Conversation reported. […]
I collect roo poo – and our research could save many marsupial lives
I thought convincing my husband of the merits of my returning to study just as he had retired would be a tricky sell. So his enthusiasm for the idea caught me by surprise. He helpfully suggested several interesting topics: sea turtles, dugongs and coral reefs. If it involved a boat in a warm climate, he […]