Wildlife

For the first time in decades, koalas have been spotted on a historic sheep-grazing property in Victoria which had thousands of trees planted on it to bring the species back. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is teaming up with Koala Clancy Foundation on June 15 and 16 to plant more than 8,100 trees on the property, which sits along the Moorabool River in Victoria.

In a magnificent moment for conservation, the first northern hairy-nosed wombats have been released to explore their new home at Powrunna State Forest near St George in south-west Queensland. Northern hairy-nosed wombats are one of the rarest land mammals in the world.

Suzie Christensen. Once widespread, the Kermadec Petrel (Pterodroma neglecta) disappeared from Lord Howe Island following the introduction of pigs and rodents and spread of invasive weeds ... With the successful eradication of these pests and an ongoing weed control program, the vulnerable species now has the opportunity to return to breed on the main island.

Koala conservation organisation, Friends of the Koala, say there’s been a 15 per cent increase in koalas being hit by vehicles in the Northern Rivers region this past year, calling for extra vigilance from motorists ... Between May 2023 and May 2024, Friends of the Koala received reports of 71 koalas who were hit by vehicles, of which only 13 were able to be rehabilitated and released back to the wild.

The Miles Government has released the findings of a review of the government’s koala habitat protection regulations. The regulations were introduced in 2020 to better protect South East Queensland’s iconic koala population and the habitat they call home ... The consultation confirmed the regulations had been effective, however some elements have not worked as intended.  

Two tiny trackers are helping to uncover the secrets of the Sunshine Coast’s resident shorebirds. In a collaboration with the Queensland Wader Study Group and with the assistance of the Queensland Bird Research and Banding Group, Sunshine Coast Council recently fitted two tiny satellite trackers to Sooty Oystercatchers.

After making the difficult decision last year to put the zoo they founded on the market, Steve and Stephanie Robinson have had a change of heart, deciding to retain ownership of the Darling Downs Zoo at Pilton ... Mr Robinson said he wanted to ensure the zoo remains as a breeding facility for rare and endangered animals, as well as a family and educational facility that attracts visits from many local schools.

Koala Conversations, a dynamic series of events dedicated to koala conservation, is set to captivate communities across the Northern Rivers region. From the 18th to the 31st of May, a multitude of engaging activities and educational opportunities will unfold, culminating in the Koala Conversations Forum at Southern Cross University on the 1st of June.

Libbe Paton. The North East Wild Dog Action Group has been petitioning for wild dog control and 3km Livestock Protection Buffer (LPB) to continue as is. The opposing argument by pro-dingo activists is debatable, with many believing the dingo is native to Australia and questions are being raised. What is a dingo? What is a wild dog? What is a hybrid dog?

Glenn Falla. The aftermath of Covid 19 brought with it a lot of self-reflection for many people and an opportunity to look at current lifestyles and determine if there was balance ... Donald and its surrounding wetlands have a long history of supplying wild food for families around the state, and for that matter, for interstate visitors as well.

Mike Gillam. Travelling south, I leave Alice Springs before first light and I’m rewarded and indeed frustrated by a brilliant meteor plummeting to earth in the south west. The heavenly body is primarily bright green with an orange tail and I fail to capture it even though the camera sits on the seat beside me ready for such moments.

The Northern Territory Government’s Saltwater Crocodile Management Program 2024-2034 will allow for the targeted culling of crocodiles in specified areas to ensure the safety of swimmers. The new Program provides a clear direction for the management of the NT’s saltwater crocodile population for the next 10 years.

The 2024 Victorian duck season has been nothing short of a success, marked by outstanding hunter compliance and an exhilarating experience for participants. As the season progresses, it is clear that responsible hunting is a positive force, not just for those involved, but for conservation and the environment.  

The government’s own research on the north coast has confirmed that forestry does not affect koala numbers ... New data from field surveys of 1000 sites, trumpeted by the incoming Environment Minister and commenced a year ago, will not be released in time to stimulate or inform public submissions on the Koala Strategy ... The result is preordained.

Hundreds of native seedlings are set to be planted on flood-affected land, helping to bolster native habitat and reduce future flood damage. The project area, adjacent to and including Lions Park, Lower Tenthill, consists of two recently acquired lots which were bought back under the Voluntary Home Buy-Back (VHBB) program.

The State Government’s record-breaking fish stocking program has again hit a high-water mark with 10 million fish stocked this year, so more recreational fishers can wet a line close to home across the state. Minister for Outdoor Recreation Steve Dimopoulos, last week stocked more brown trout at Lake Wendouree in Ballarat and announced the major milestone for Victorians.

Shaun Hollis. A trio of majestic wedge-tailed eagles rises out of the paddock stubble as our farm ute approaches ... Honiton farmer Matt Smith said he likes the huge birds living in the scrub beyond the bottom paddock because they help clean up the remains of any lambs which have become too weak to survive on their own. He said he has never seen an eagle kill a healthy lamb on his farm.

The Richardson River, Donald, and Lake Buloke are among the areas closed to hunting for the season beginning tomorrow. The Victorian Government has closed or partially closed thirty-two wetlands to hunting for the 2024 duck season to prevent losses or disturbance to significant numbers of threatened species and breeding waterbirds.

Brian Lea and David Dore ... The call of the Plains-wanderer is like the moo of a cow. The song metres are programmed to record in the evening and the early mornings ... over a period of time the song metre on George Cullinan’s property picked up a number of calls over a matter of a few weeks ...

When I started as a young forester in the late 1980s, I yearned for the opportunity to work in our native forests. While assessing a coupe to plan for a tree harvesting operation, I knew I was inheriting a forest structure that benefited from silvicultural practices adopted by foresters a few generations before me. Foresters aim to make the forest more productive by applying scientific principles to aid in the regeneration of the next crop of trees and to encourage the best growth of the retained trees. My responsibility was to continue that tradition for foresters a few generations ahead of me.

About 150 people gathered at Nornalup on March 23 to protest about the State Government’s plan to burn 80ha of nearby mostly-unlogged tingle forest. Nornalup community members are angry about the planned burn which environmentalists say is counter-productive to fire mitigation and destructive to the environment.