Warning of tick season with real bite
A wet winter and spring in Australia's east is driving a surge in tick cases among pets, including in normally tick-free areas like Melbourne's suburbs.
animal
Extinction threat for Wet Tropic possums
Ringtail possums in Queensland's Wet Tropics could be wiped out by 2050 unless action is taken to reduce the impacts of climate change, a paper says.
Aussie octopus venom may treat melanoma
The venom of an Australian octopus contains a peptide that could reduce skin cancer cells and slow the growth of tumours, a study shows.
Qld whale tangle ‘worst-case scenario’
A rescue is under way off a Sunshine Coast beach after a whale entanglement reportedly involving a mother and calf caught in a shark net.
Rescued baby koala now a ‘bossy boots’
A drenched koala joey rescued from the Queensland floods has finally returned to the wild after spending months at a rehabilitation centre.
Noah’s arks plan too narrow for ecologists
Conservationists and ecologists have welcomed a government plan to prevent the loss of any more species but say it's too narrow and won't be enough on its own.
Citizen scientists spot elusive platypuses
From the Australian tropics down to Kangaroo Island, citizen scientists are looking for platypuses in suburban creeks, farm dams, and bush waterways.
Tas whale stranding mission to scale down
There are no more surviving pilot whales following a mass stranding at a beach on Tasmania's west coast as plans to dispose of about 200 of the dead ramps up.
Second mass stranding of whales in Tas
Marine conservationists have headed to Tasmania's west coast in an attempt to rescue what whales they can from a pod of about 230 of the stranded mammals.
Red panda escape sparks zoo security check
The Adelaide Zoo will try to determine how a red panda escaped from an enclosure and made his way into nearby parklands.
Toddler sustains facial injuries in double dog attack in Brisbane
A toddler and a woman in her 60s have been seriously injured after being attacked by two dogs at a home in Brisbane's south.
New baits needed to kill mice: CSIRO
A study by Australia's national science agency has found a new baiting regime is needed to significantly reduce mouse populations.
Qld koala boost after research cash swap
The Queensland government will provide more protection for koalas on the Gold Coast after money earmarked for a research centre was spent on a rollercoaster.
Shark nets take toll on threatened species
About a fifth of the 376 marine animals caught in NSW shark nets last season were threatened species, a government report has revealed.
Nth Qld dunnarts separated by 1800km
In tropical north Queensland, a small marsupial is likely taking evolutionary steps to becoming a separate species from its nearest relatives 1800km away.
Two people exposed to Hendra virus horse
Two people exposed to a horse infected with Hendra virus in North Queensland are set to receive antibody treatment.
More koala deaths at Vic site amid probe
More koalas have been discovered dead at a Victorian blue gum plantation, but investigators have been unable to find any signs of trauma or gun shots.
SA set to ban jumps racing
South Australia is set to ban jumps racing with the state Labor government to support a Greens bill before parliament.
Rare cockatoo spotted in northern NSW
A pair of spectacular glossy black-cockatoos have been spotted in northern NSW after a three-month hunt for the threatened birds by conservationists.
Pronged collar ban among Tasmanian reforms
A ban on pronged collars is among several proposed changes to Tasmanian animal welfare laws.
Final vote set to ban jumps racing in SA
The South Australian parliament is set to vote on the latest bid by the Greens to ban jumps racing.
Queensland scientists find ‘Superworms’ can dine on polystyrene
University of Queensland scientists are studying a worm species fed a diet of polystyrene in the hope of discovering enzymes that could break down plastic.
Croc attack in Qld sparks investigation
The Queensland Department of Environment and Science is investigating a freshwater crocodile attack on a man in the state's remote northwest.
Qld plans jail, fines for animal abusers
The Queensland government has tabled a new animal welfare bill which will slap heavy fines or prison terms on people breaching their duty of care.
Pronged dog collars to be banned in Qld
The first review of the state's animal cruelty laws in two decades has led to proposed changes including banning certain types of dog collars and pig poisons.
Dead turtles suffering shell-eating disease wash up in Wide Bay area
Researchers are concerned about a rise in a mystery disease that eats away turtle shells since this year's devastating floods in Queensland.
Dog attacks on postal workers skyrocket
Australia's dog owners are being urged to secure their furry friends after a surge in the number of posties attacked while delivering the mail.
Tiny snail discovered in Tasmanian lake
A tiny snail thought to be extinct has been discovered in Tasmania's yingina/Great Lake in the state's central west.
Aust Zoo backflip strands elephant in NZ
Auckland Zoo staff have been crushed by a last-minute backflip from Australia Zoo, which was to home their elderly elephant Burma.
Roo attack puts Qld golfer in hospital
A 69-year-old woman is being treated for multiple cuts, and her jaw may require stitches, after a large kangaroo attacked her on a Gold Coast golf course.
Dog act: Surfers Paradise man jailed over dog’s violent death
A man who killed his flatmate's four-year-old service dog by throwing him into a roof or wall leaving blood splattered across the room has been jailed.