Echidna digs in to help island wildlife back from blaze
Rangers are over the moon after an echidna was spotted on an island where wildlife was mostly destroyed by a devastating bushfire more than a decade ago.
ecosystem
Unburnt wildlife refuge to be sacrificed for homes
A forested haven for species in danger of extinction will be turned into a housing estate after escaping the Black Summer bushfires.
Reef in crisis: scientists despair as corals perish
Scientists from three research stations on the Great Barrier Reef have shared sobering accounts of the damage inflicted by the latest marine heatwave.
Dunes retreating from angry ocean at alarming rate
Coastal dune fields are on the march in South Australia, retreating inland from an angry ocean at an alarming rate, scientists have revealed.
Aussie scientist’s take on the battle of the reptiles
A study led by the University of Queensland has revealed how some lizards have evolved to avoid the deadly neurotoxins of Australia's most venomous snakes.
Drones being used to protect Antarctic biodiversity
Scientists are surveying remote areas of Antarctica with drones, hoping to protect plants and animals in the fragile ecosystems in the face of climate change.
Asian toad pest found in Victoria a ‘serious threat’
Melburnians have been urged to look out for the deadly Asian black-spined toad after a resident found one while taking an afternoon walk on Boxing Day.
Researchers uncover trove of species in own backyard
A mosquito, a flatworm and a sandfly were officially discovered in Australia for the first time when scientists went searching in their backyard.
‘Very high’ risk of major summer fish kill in Darling
It's likely another mass fish kill will occur at Menindee, the NSW government says, as state and federal Labor move to protect Darling River animal inhabitants.
Action urged after damning report into mass fish deaths
Strong laws are useless if not implemented, conservationists say, after a damning report into the cause of 20 million fish deaths.
Action urged after report into 20 million fish deaths
Strong laws are useless if they're not implemented, conservationists say after a damning report into the cause of 20 to 30 million fish deaths in March.
Seaweed trial to suck out Barrier Reef nitrogen nasties
Seaweed filters have been installed off Queensland in a bid to improve water quality on the Great Barrier Reef and thwart the spread of a destructive starfish.
Rubble-loving fish a ‘glimmer of hope’ for Barrier Reef
While the most colourful denizens of a Great Barrier Reef island may have departed, their rubble-loving neighbours endure at the Australian natural wonder.
Pledge for national plan to splash out on ocean health
The federal environment minister has promised to develop Australia's first overarching plan to protect ocean health in the face of mounting pressures.
War on urchins aims to save kelp forests
Plagues of sea urchins will be harvested and turned into fertiliser under a plan to regenerate kelp forests and boost farming and fisheries at the same time.
Feral brumbies rampant in Kosciuszko
NSW authorities have admitted feral brumbies in Kosciuszko National Park are even more abundant despite a plan to reduce wild horse numbers to 3000 by 2027.
Aussie science tackling rusty plant threat
Queensland scientists have developed an environmentally friendly RNA-based spray to help combat myrtle rust, which has wiped out many Australian plants.
War of the worlds being waged against weed
A determined and tenacious effort to defeat an imported weed is reaping rewards for native species in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Wetlands alive with birdlife after floods
Colonies of ibis, egrets, herons, swans and ducks have been observed breeding in wetlands across eastern Australia after record-breaking floods.
Australia promises more cash for nature
Australia has promised ongoing funding to help developing countries protect nature as the environment minister heads to a biodiversity summit in Canada.
Labor to respond to review of nature laws
The environment minister is about to tell Australians how she'll fix laws that have failed the nation's ailing environment, two years on from a major review.
Race on to save ‘butterflies of the sea’
Critically endangered sea slugs are among the diverse marine life under Victoria's Phillip Island Bridge in need of urgent protection, say conservationists.
Govt vows to fight in-danger reef listing
A United Nations monitoring mission released its long-awaited report on the Great Barrier Reef, saying it should be listed as a World Heritage site in danger.
Reef should join in-danger list: UN report
A United Nations monitoring mission released its long-awaited report on the Great Barrier Reef, saying it should be listed as a World Heritage site in danger.
New plant label aims to ward off invaders
A new scheme is being trialled to help backyard gardeners steer clear of plants that could jump the fence and invade native landscapes.
Minister flags biodiversity credits scheme
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has flagged her support for a new biodiversity credits scheme to help arrest Australia's shocking environmental decline.
‘Bum breathing’ turtle reappears in Qld
Researchers have used a DNA analysis to find a "bum breathing" turtle last seen more than 25 years ago in a north Queensland river.
Dingo genes study puts culling under cloud
Australian researchers have found differences in dingo and domestic dog genes, raising questions about culling the native canine.
Death fears for ancient WA coral formation
On Western Australia's stunning Ningaloo coast, a coral bommie that began life 1000 years ago sits ghostly white in the green waters of Bills Bay.
Call for action on plastics in waterways
Volunteers collected more than 250,000 pieces of rubbish from Australia's waterways, with polystyrene and cigarette butts among the most common items found.
Endangered native Gouldian Finches rebound
Birdwatchers have spotted rare Gouldian Finches in Darwin, prompting hopes the endangered species, which once numbered in the millions, may be recovering.