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Is the ‘dingo problem’ really that ?

The recent, very sad news of a Canadian teenager on K’gari (Fraser Island, Queensland in Australia) found deceased on January 19th and the dingoes that may or may not have been involved is a tragedy for the family, and also for the wildlife-human interactions.  This mistaken case of ‘dingoes attacking a person’ has caused a confused mess, so here I wish to provide some much-needed clarifications. Here are the facts: The body of Piper James, 19, was found on Seventy...

Conservation Conversation: Zoos…. good for conservation, bad for….

Zoos can benefit wildlife conservation   Zoos undertake very important and urgent work for species conservation, and it’s not just the ”charismatic megafauna’ that is the focus of these nature projects. Zoos Victoria are working to research and then breed the critically endangered corroboree frog…. Major threats The main threat to the Southern Corroboree Frog is the disease  Chytridiomycosis, caused by infection with Amphibian Chytrid Fungus. This is a big cause of frog deaths worldwide. Another issue is climate change,...

Conservation Conversation #1: War on plastics, War on Nature

  Australia is a TOP contributor to plastic waste, ranking as the second-highest generator of single-use plastic person person globally…. consuming around 147kg per person annually, with most ending up in landfills or leaking into the environment, harming marine life. *Photo Source: Australia Marine Conservation Society Australia’s packaging crisis is a severe environmental issue driven by excessive plastic waste, low recycling rates (about 19-20%) and a failure to meet national recycling targets….. The crisis stems from hard-to-recycle materials, confusing labels,...

Christmas meals – suggestions for more sustainable options

Instead of reaching for the ‘normal’ seafoods that we have consumed in the past, the AMCS (Australian Marine Conservation Society ) has the following suggestions…… Instead of Vietnamese farmed prawns, look for Australian farmed prawns. Instead of wild-caught barramundi, or Vietnamese farmed barramundi, look for Australian farmed barramundi. Instead of Tasmanian farmed Atlantic salmon, choose King salmon farmed in New Zealand. “Species like prawns, barramundi and salmon remain a festive favourite for many Australians, but not all are without significant...

Better understanding our views of chimpanzees, and humans. Thanks, Dr Jane

Dr. Jane Goodall, world-renowned ethologist, conservationist, and humanitarian, who died this week at the age of 91, undertook critical research in the field to correct and change a number of misunderstandings about chimpanzees and their behaviours and lives. She found, for example, that the animals are omnivorous, not vegetarian; that they are capable of making and using tools; and, in short, that they have a set of hitherto unrecognized complex and highly developed social behaviors. Goodall wrote a number of...

I met ‘Dr Jane’ , the unstoppable animal advocate

Dr Jane Goodall, world-renowned conservationist, passed away today at the grand old age of 91. I was privileged to have met ‘Dr Jane’ , as she liked to be called, alongside students of ‘Shanghai Roots & Shoots’ event back in 2014 ……Dr Jane visited Shanghai to bring positive environmental news  to international students……    DR JANE VISITS SHANGHAI TO ENCOURAGE STUDENTS – “We can change the world” World-renowned environmentalist, Dr Jane Goodall, recently visited Shanghai to speak to and inspire...

Bird of the Year …. about the winner

The 2025 winner of the Bird of the Year is… The New Zealand falcon or kārearea, kārewarewa, or kāiaia; Falco novaeseelandiae) is New Zealand’s only falcon, and one of only four living native and two endemic birds of prey.[3] It is frequently mistaken for the larger and more common swamp harrier. It is the country’s most threatened bird of prey, with only around 5000–15000 individuals remaining. Under the New Zealand Threat Classification System the falcon is stable at Threatened, with conservation research needed.   What is a ‘bird of...

Bird of the Year 2025 …. update

There’s only THIS week to vote for your choice for BIRD OF THE YEAR Voting closes: 5pm Sunday 28 September Winner announced Monday 29 September   How to Vote? Here’s a YouTube short video to explain ….. Click here to VOTE – Bird Of The Year     ...

Threatened Species Day

National Threatened Species Day Sunday the 7th of September 2025 Overview On the 7th of September, 1936, the last known Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) died at Hobart Zoo. As of 1996, we mark the 7th of September as “National Threatened Species Day”; a day to stop and reflect on species that we have lost, and may lose in the future. It is an important time to highlight Australian native plant and animal species, and the conservation efforts that are vital to...

World Elephant Day 2025

Mitigation of human-elephant conflict will be the focus of World Elephant Day celebrations to be held in Coimbatore on August 12, 2025 World Elephant Day reminds us to preserve biodiversity What began in 2012 as a plea to stop poaching has grown into a full-scale movement linking scientists, rangers, and ordinary citizens with one goal: to keep elephants alive in their own habitats. World Elephant Day this year turns the spotlight on Matriarchs & Memories, urging us to guard both...

World Oceans Day – The BIG problem with bottom trawling

Bottom trawling is a fishing practice that herds and captures the ‘target species’, like ground fish or crabs, by towing a net along the ocean floor. Fishers use trawls to catch species that live on or close to the seafloor such as cod, hake, shrimp, octopus, mullet, halibut or anglerfish. It also captures a lot of ‘by-catch’, unwanted or non-target fish that are not intended to be caught. Trawling destroys the natural seafloor habitat by essentially rototilling the seabed. All...

New Zealand Government pushes overhaul of freshwater rules

  From New Zealand Press (30/5/2025) A proposed shake-up of freshwater rules is drawing support from farmers and alarm from environmental advocates. On Thursday, the Government proposed overhauling several regulatory frameworks spanning housing, infrastructure and the environment. The proposals, alongside alternative options, are out for public consultation. Among them is a major rewrite of the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management (NPS-FM), which guides how regional councils manage and protect rivers, lakes, and aquifers. In what has been framed as...

Watts new ‘environment’ minister, Bowen gets ‘climate’ in Australia cabinet reshuffle

Chris Bowen has been confirmed as climate and energy minister in the new Albanese government, while Murray Watt is appointed minister for the environment and water as part of a reshuffle announced on Monday. Josh Wilson is retained as assistant minister for climate and energy, and Madeleine King retains resources, and Catherine King retains transport. Former environment minister Tanya Plibersek is moved to social services. Tim Ayres is appointed minister for industry, and Kate Thwaites is named as special envoy...

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