Work complete on nation’s biggest weir since WWII
Construction is complete on the largest weir built in Australia since World War II, with the vast body of water captured to be used in agriculture and industry.
nature
Almost 50 new spider species identified in Australia
A popular former children's TV host dubbed "Ranger Stacey" is among the Australians who have had new species of spiders named after them in a published study.
Aussies unprepared for nastier summer bites and stings
Too many Australians don't have the knowledge to prepare for chance summer encounters with snakes, spiders and other venomous animals, experts warn.
Dingo put down on K’gari after ‘high risk’ behaviour
Rangers have put down another dingo on Queensland's K'gari following a number of "high risk" incidents involving the animal and attacks by other dingoes.
Mountain to reopen after ‘Jesus saves’ vandalism attack
Queensland's culturally significant Mt Beerwah will reopen to visitors despite further public meddling following a "callous" vandalism attack.
Australia’s most attractive rodent makes 100km journey
A Dusky Hopping Mouse made a 100km hop from its usual habitat to southern NSW, confirming a significant territorial expansion for the diminutive species.
Development offsets insufficient to re-home koalas
The costs involved in cultivating Queensland koala habitats are falling short of the levies paid by developers to build on land already home to the marsupials.
Nature the big loser as scientists face suppression
Government suppression of good science is hampering the fight to address the biodiversity crisis gripping the planet, an Australian expert says.
Safety zones offer fin-tastic benefits for marine life
The removal of gillnet fishing in an area larger than 60,000 hectares is part of new rezoning plans announced by the Queensland government.
Cross-cultural map is as functional as it is beautiful
In the Northern Territory desert, traditional knowledge and art are meeting Western science in a double-pronged approach to biodiversity conservation.
Government finance agencies sued over climate reporting
An environment group is suing two government finance agencies, arguing they must tell taxpayers about climate and other harms caused by projects they funded.
Decision looms in battle over Tasmania’s wild heart
It's crunch time in the bitter war over a tourism project in Tasmania's wild interior as some say it could have consequences for other World Heritage sites.
Parks chief struggled to find cash for pest control
The managers of Australia's national parks had to make tough choices during a decade of underfunding that prevented basic activities from being carried out.
Much abuzz about saving bees and the ‘web of life’
World Bee Day is raising awareness of human threats to bee populations around the world, as scientists and nature lovers try to save the critical insects.
Woman in hospital after crashing with mob of kangaroos
A motorbike rider in her 50s has been airlifted to hospital after crashing into a kangaroo in southern Queensland.
New nature watchdog short-changed in budget: Wilkie
A new watchdog for Australia's natural environment has been given just one-third of the cash it needs in the federal budget, an independent MP says.
Federal budget to ‘turn the tide’ on nature destruction
Animals and plants at risk of extinction will be overseen by two powerful agencies as the federal budget outlines funding for a range of environmental measures.
Aussie scientists name ‘amazing’ new tree frog species
Five new species of frogs, including one with camouflage that makes it look like bird poo, have been described by Australian scientists.
Cassowaries critical in spreading native seeds
An Australian study has shown just how important Cassowaries are to native plant seed dispersal in highly fragmented rainforest areas.
Deep ocean in deep trouble as Antarctic ice melts
A life-sustaining circulatory system for the deep ocean will quickly slow and may collapse entirely without emissions cuts this decade, Australian experts say.
Off-the-scale clean up as rotting fish threaten water
Specialist crews are being sent to Menindee in outback NSW to remove dead fish from the Darling-Bakaa after the biggest mass in living memory.
Cultural burning is safer for koalas and better for people too
Koalas are an iconic endangered species living in a fire-prone environment. This makes them an ideal subject when investigating solutions to wildfires.
Crocodiles are uniquely protected against fungal infections. This might one day help human medicine too
As the threat of antibiotic-resistant microbes grows, so does our need for new and effective treatments. Could the defensins of these beasts hold the answers to help create a new wave of life-saving therapeutics?
The healing powers of Australia’s Clean Up campaign
Aussies will rally this weekend for Clean Up Australia Day but it's more than just a boost for nature. It's also a lesson in the restorative power of community.
Intrepid biologist makes stunning lizard find on island
A new species of gecko believed to have evolved in isolation over millions of years has been discovered on a remote, rocky island on the Great Barrier Reef.
Landlocked moulting penguins just need a little space
Penguins are about to strip off at beaches across southern Australia, ramping up the pint-sized seabird's exposure to predators, including domestic dogs.
We found 29 threatened species are back from the brink in Australia. Here’s how
Australia’s natural world is in deep trouble. Many of our species are getting rarer. Some are now perilously close to extinction, while entire ecosystems face collapse.
Norfolk Island braces for damage as Gabrielle nears
Norfolk Island is preparing for Cyclone Gabrielle to bring gale-force winds and very heavy surf as it reaches the remote Australian territory.
Thieves swipe rare orchids from WA conservation garden
Up to 900 of Western Australia's rarest orchids have been stolen from a conservation garden in a devastating blow for two species teetering on the brink.
Fireworks deliver long-term hit for wildlife: study
Fireworks can cause breeding and other long-term problems for wildlife and it's time to move to lower-impact spectacles, a new study says.
Federal laws fail at-risk species: report
Federal laws that are supposed to provide greater protection for the habitats of threatened species simply do not, a new analysis shows.