On the Brink What’S Inside Issue Your Impact Project Wild Species Profile: 2016/17 Quokka P3 P9 P10 03 2017 of Feral Predator, Fox and Cat, Abatement

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

On the Brink What’S Inside Issue Your Impact Project Wild Species Profile: 2016/17 Quokka P3 P9 P10 03 2017 of Feral Predator, Fox and Cat, Abatement On The Brink What’s Inside Issue Your impact Project wild_ Species profile: 2016/17 Quokka p3 p9 p10 03 2017 of feral predator, fox and cat, abatement. For that we say thankyou. I offer my As part of our ongoing commitment to heartfelt thanks to every one of you, Australian wildlife conservation, FAME regardless of the size of your gift. continues to support research into Your Impact 2016/17 Philanthropy – the generosity of people methods that in essence, become like you and me – makes all FAME’s important assets of a toolbox designed to projects possible. address this dilemma. In saying this, and in alignment with our Our core business of supporting Strategic Plan, in early 2018 we will be conservation of endangered species distributing a community survey to find continues as we remain committed to out more about you, our donors. This providing support for a range of important information will help form the basis of the and inspiring projects. This will continue future of the Foundation as we look to From the CEO to increase in 2017/18 with funding to build capacity to ensure a greater impact be provided into a research project to on wildlife conservation. Please consider ascertain the effective use of detector dogs 25 years. It is an amazing milestone taking the time to complete the survey to WA ACT in WA to save the last remaining population for any organisation and in 2018 the help us by playing a vital role in our future. 3% Foundation will celebrate 25 years of wild Numbats; building a robust In 2016/2017 you gave 5% of commitment to saving Australia’s insurance population of three species at After all at the core of our mission, we are precious flora and fauna. Working with Aussie Ark, with the eventual outcome of driven to save Australia’s precious flora $672,778 VIC Government, Corporates and a variety rewilding; and the supporting of a visual and fauna. As we continue over the next of stakeholders across numerous fields, project to build awareness of our precious 25 years to create awareness by bringing 25% during this tenure we have supported 28 Australian fauna, to name but a few. the fate of these species to the forefront, we can only hope that the current state of on ground projects across Australia. This Our strong track record of success is in play improves. By achieving conservation is no mean feat, particularly considering essence a result of our articulate and success, as a community, we can work the impact these projects have had on well-researched analyses, good towards halting the rate of extinction of wildlife conservation. governance and extensive knowledge An increase of Australian flora and fauna. Giving by In 2018 we commemorate these of conservation applied to every project NSW presented to the Foundation. We are state in milestones by bringing you updates of At FAME, we believe, together, it can 21.5% 41% where some of the projects are now, many prepared to take risks with projects be done. on the previous year Australia years on. Additionally we will, with you, our particularly when the outcomes could On behalf of the Management and Board TAS community, celebrate the successes of change the landscape for our endangered of FAME we extend a warm appreciation the Foundation in many different forms. flora and fauna for the better. 1% of our association and wish you and your Throughout the years, we have come to Since FAME’s establishment in 1993 the family the very best for a joyous festive believe that sadly, there is no point to it if, majority of funding has been generously season and 2018. shortly after release, the Quoll, Possum or provided by individual donors. The 2017/18 SA Tracy McNamara any endangered species simply becomes fiscal year was no different. The sum of Individual donations Chief Executive Officer 14% prey for a feral cat. That’s why successful the impact of this, for the Foundation, is FAME conservation of threatened native wildlife depicted in the impact statement on the 2873 requires a comprehensive program that opposite page. These results would not QLD addresses every element of a complex have been achieved without the financial 11% challenge, including addressing the issue support of each and every single one of you. The FAME Newsletter is published by About FAME Projects we have funded the Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species Ltd. FAME is an independent, non-profit 5 ABN 79 154 823 579 organisation based in South Australia but operating across the country. Since 1993, with your help we Level 1, 47 Tynte Street Welbourn O’Brien is proudly associated Donations to FAME are tax deductible North Adelaide 5006, SA with FAME as we work together toward under relevant Australian legislation. have successfully completed 08 8374 1744 sustainable biological diversity. [email protected] 23 Projects www.fame.org.au Donations received from Follow us on social media Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content within this 5 Countries newsletter. We apologise for any omissions or errors that may have occurred. 2 3 helpful Deputy Chair/Vice President for A big thank you to ALL DONORS, big A year in review many years. Tim retired from the Board at and small, regular or one-off, particularly The Tassie Devil Building a the last AGM, November 2017. those that have remembered FAME in With a vision of returning - Chairman’s their wills with a bequest. Devil Ark will support a healthy population future for three I’d also like to acknowledged and thank “various marsupial species of up to 500 endangered Tasmanian update & thanks Director Diana Beal for her many hours The biggest threat facing our Aussie native Devils, safe from the fatal Devil Facial to the Eastern Highlands threatened keeping a close eye on the FAME wildlife in my opinion is not urbanisation, Tumour Disease that has almost wiped of Australia, Aussie Ark It is humbling to again be elected to finances and the personally significant farming or mining but feral cats, foxes and out the species on the island. Currently, species the Board of Directors of FAME by the financial contribution she has made to dogs. The most important of these is feral Devil Ark has over 50% of the entire will provide on-the-ground members and then again elected to the the Company. cats. FAME has three projects underway mainland population. conservation on a scale This initial two-year project will provide role of Chair of the FAME Board by way targeting the management of feral cats. funding for Aussie Ark to build a FAME would not be successful at its Experts have predicted that the of fellow Directors. Please see the FAME website for details of never before attempted. By further three insurance populations of mission of saving native wildlife from Tasmanian population may be extinct these projects. focussing on the protection endangered mammals - the Southern I’ve been on the Board of FAME for many extinction but for the critical, eye cast over within the next decade. To prevent total Brown Bandicoot, the Long-nosed years as Chair. Thank you all for your all applications for funding made to FAME Anyone reading this is welcome to email extinction, healthy Tasmanian Devils of key species in feral-proof by Directors Fred Ford and Bruce Jackson. the CEO, Tracy McNamara at Potoroo and the Eastern Bettong. support. must be bred on the mainland, away fenced reserves, additional The review of applications for funding [email protected] from the disease. The project will reintroduce species in However FAME’s success at native wildlife is a time consuming and often-tedious to suggest any idea to effectively future release to large semi-wild, predator proof fenced release conservation (NWC) is the product of a 44 healthy devils were established at process. The Company is most grateful manage feral cats. FAME welcomes sites in the Barrington Tops where they lot of hard work and generous support Devil Ark in January 2011. There are now protected areas is feasible. to Bruce and Fred for their respective all suggestions to address this urgent once used to roam and thrive with the by many. more than 150 healthy Devils now roaming commitments to reviewing and advising problem threatening many native species – Tim Faulkner goal of eventual reintroduction back into the Board on which NWC projects should with extinction. across 13 free-range enclosures at Devil It is imperative to recognise all, but there the wild. be considered for investment. Ark. The total number of Devils at Devil Ark are a few that should not be forgotten. I’d Yours in conservation frequently changes as breeding Devils What are the benefits of the project? like to acknowledge the very significant FAME’s mission to fund NWC on-ground are swapped with the 35 other zoos contribution made by Cheryl Hill, FAME’s Christopher Chapman projects targeting the prevention of the participating in the Save the Tasmanian By FAME supporting a project and founding CEO who invested 20 years Chair, FAME Board further extinction of Australian flora and Devil Program. This ensures that a healthy a vision like Aussie Ark, we work in into assisting FAME deliver on its missions. fauna, is particularly challenging at this genetically diverse population of Devils is partnership to have immediate social Cheryl’s legacy is conspicuous. time. Limited community, corporate or maintained at Devil Ark. Unlike zoos with and environmental benefits. Through the Thank you Cheryl. public philanthropy being attracted to their small enclosures, the Devils at Devil initiative of Aussie Ark and the concept a plethora of worthwhile, needy causes of rewilding – developing insurance Michael Willson as Chair/President has Ark are kept in a natural environment to results in NWC and environmental causes populations of key focal species and had a profound impact on the success of maintain their wild behaviour.
Recommended publications
  • Local Population Structure of a Naturally Occurring Metapopulation of the Quokka (Setonix Brachyurus Macropodidae: Marsupialia)
    Biological Conservation 110 (2003) 343–355 www.elsevier.com/locate/biocon Local population structure of a naturally occurring metapopulation of the quokka (Setonix brachyurus Macropodidae: Marsupialia) Matt W. Haywarda,b,c,*, Paul J. de Toresb,c, Michael J. Dillonc, Barry J. Foxa aSchool of Biological, Earth and Environmental Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia bDepartment of Conservation and Land Management, Wildlife Research Centre, PO Box 51 Wanneroo, WA6946, Australia cDepartment of Conservation and Land Management, Dwellingup Research Centre, Banksiadale Road, Dwellingup, WA6213, Australia Received 8 May 2002; received in revised form 18 July 2002; accepted 22 July 2002 Abstract We investigated the population structure of the quokka (Setonix brachyurus) on the mainland of Western Australia using mark– recapture techniques. Seven previously known local populations and one unconfirmed site supporting the preferred, patchy and discrete, swampy habitat of the quokka were trapped. The quokka is now considered as locally extinct at three sites. The five remaining sites had extremely low numbers, ranging from 1 to 36 individuals. Population density at these sites ranged from 0.07 to 4.3 individuals per hectare. There has been no response to the on-going, 6 year fox control programme occurring in the region despite the quokkas’ high fecundity and this is due to low recruitment levels. The remaining quokka populations in the northern jarrah forest appear to be the terminal remnants of a collapsing metapopulation. # 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Population structure; Predation; Reproduction; Setonix brachyurus; Vulnerable 1. Introduction The Rottnest Island quokka population fluctuates around 5000 with peaks of 10,000 individuals (Waring, The quokka (Setonix brachyurus Quoy & Gaimard 1956).
    [Show full text]
  • Platypus Collins, L.R
    AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS BIOLOGY AND CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT Stephen Jackson © CSIRO 2003 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Contact CSIRO PUBLISHING for all permission requests. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Jackson, Stephen M. Australian mammals: Biology and captive management Bibliography. ISBN 0 643 06635 7. 1. Mammals – Australia. 2. Captive mammals. I. Title. 599.0994 Available from CSIRO PUBLISHING 150 Oxford Street (PO Box 1139) Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia Telephone: +61 3 9662 7666 Local call: 1300 788 000 (Australia only) Fax: +61 3 9662 7555 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.publish.csiro.au Cover photos courtesy Stephen Jackson, Esther Beaton and Nick Alexander Set in Minion and Optima Cover and text design by James Kelly Typeset by Desktop Concepts Pty Ltd Printed in Australia by Ligare REFERENCES reserved. Chapter 1 – Platypus Collins, L.R. (1973) Monotremes and Marsupials: A Reference for Zoological Institutions. Smithsonian Institution Press, rights Austin, M.A. (1997) A Practical Guide to the Successful Washington. All Handrearing of Tasmanian Marsupials. Regal Publications, Collins, G.H., Whittington, R.J. & Canfield, P.J. (1986) Melbourne. Theileria ornithorhynchi Mackerras, 1959 in the platypus, 2003. Beaven, M. (1997) Hand rearing of a juvenile platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Shaw). Journal of Wildlife Proceedings of the ASZK/ARAZPA Conference. 16–20 March.
    [Show full text]
  • Post-Release Monitoring of Western Grey Kangaroos (Macropus Fuliginosus) Relocated from an Urban Development Site
    animals Article Post-Release Monitoring of Western Grey Kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) Relocated from an Urban Development Site Mark Cowan 1,* , Mark Blythman 1, John Angus 1 and Lesley Gibson 2 1 Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Wildlife Research Centre, Woodvale, WA 6026, Australia; [email protected] (M.B.); [email protected] (J.A.) 2 Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +61-8-9405-5141 Received: 31 August 2020; Accepted: 5 October 2020; Published: 19 October 2020 Simple Summary: As a result of urban development, 122 western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) were relocated from the outskirts of Perth, Western Australia, to a nearby forest. Tracking collars were fitted to 67 of the kangaroos to monitor survival rates and movement patterns over 12 months. Spotlighting and camera traps were used as a secondary monitoring technique particularly for those kangaroos without collars. The survival rate of kangaroos was poor, with an estimated 80% dying within the first month following relocation and only six collared kangaroos surviving for up to 12 months. This result implicates stress associated with the capture, handling, and transport of animals as the likely cause. The unexpected rapid rate of mortality emphasises the importance of minimising stress when undertaking animal relocations. Abstract: The expansion of urban areas and associated clearing of habitat can have severe consequences for native wildlife. One option for managing wildlife in these situations is to relocate them.
    [Show full text]
  • The Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus Occidentalis)
    A major road and an artificial waterway are barriers to the rapidly declining western ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus occidentalis Kaori Yokochi BSc. (Hons.) This thesis is presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of The University of Western Australia School of Animal Biology Faculty of Science October 2015 Abstract Roads are known to pose negative impacts on wildlife by causing direct mortality, habitat destruction and habitat fragmentation. Other kinds of artificial linear structures, such as railways, powerline corridors and artificial waterways, have the potential to cause similar negative impacts. However, their impacts have been rarely studied, especially on arboreal species even though these animals are thought to be highly vulnerable to the effects of habitat fragmentation due to their fidelity to canopies. In this thesis, I studied the effects of a major road and an artificial waterway on movements and genetics of an endangered arboreal species, the western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis). Despite their endangered status and recent dramatic decline, not a lot is known about this species mainly because of the difficulties in capturing them. Using a specially designed dart gun, I captured and radio tracked possums over three consecutive years to study their movement and survival along Caves Road and an artificial waterway near Busselton, Western Australia. I studied the home ranges, dispersal pattern, genetic diversity and survival, and performed population viability analyses on a population with one of the highest known densities of P. occidentalis. I also carried out simulations to investigate the consequences of removing the main causes of mortality in radio collared adults, fox predation and road mortality, in order to identify effective management options.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Parasitology in Australia: Past, Present and Future
    CSIRO PUBLISHING Australian Journal of Zoology, 2018, 66, 286–305 Review https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO19017 Wildlife parasitology in Australia: past, present and future David M. Spratt A,C and Ian Beveridge B AAustralian National Wildlife Collection, National Research Collections Australia, CSIRO, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. BVeterinary Clinical Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia. CCorresponding author. Email: [email protected] Abstract. Wildlife parasitology is a highly diverse area of research encompassing many fields including taxonomy, ecology, pathology and epidemiology, and with participants from extremely disparate scientific fields. In addition, the organisms studied are highly dissimilar, ranging from platyhelminths, nematodes and acanthocephalans to insects, arachnids, crustaceans and protists. This review of the parasites of wildlife in Australia highlights the advances made to date, focussing on the work, interests and major findings of researchers over the years and identifies current significant gaps that exist in our understanding. The review is divided into three sections covering protist, helminth and arthropod parasites. The challenge to document the diversity of parasites in Australia continues at a traditional level but the advent of molecular methods has heightened the significance of this issue. Modern methods are providing an avenue for major advances in documenting and restructuring the phylogeny of protistan parasites in particular, while facilitating the recognition of species complexes in helminth taxa previously defined by traditional morphological methods. The life cycles, ecology and general biology of most parasites of wildlife in Australia are extremely poorly understood. While the phylogenetic origins of the Australian vertebrate fauna are complex, so too are the likely origins of their parasites, which do not necessarily mirror those of their hosts.
    [Show full text]
  • Aussie Animals Aussie Reptiles Photos & Prese
    S SSIE ANIMALS TION AU AUSSIE RE RESENTA PTILES PHOTOS & P KOALAS & PYTHONS QUOKKAS LIZARDS We are one of the few places in & KOALAS & CROCS Australia where you have the opportunity to HOLD a Koala for a The Quokka is a small macropod about the size of a domestic cat and it Australia is home to the world’s most amazing collection of lizards, great souvenir photo. For a small is found in Western Australia. Though they resemble rodents, Quokkas dragons and monitors. Camouflage is their key to survival, so take additional cost, you will have a are actually marsupials, like kangaroos and wallabies. your time and try to find them. memory to last a lifetime. Or for Everyone one loves a Koala! Whether they are eating, sleeping or just Crocodiles have been part of the Australian eco- something on the “scaly side”, have a looking adorable, they are Australia’s most loved animal. Over millions system for millions of years. Here you will find photo with a large python. (extra cost) of years, the Koala’s diet has evolved to one that is exclusively of Freshwater Crocodiles which are mainly found eucalyptus leaves. in inland river systems. The larger and more aggressive Saltwater or Estuarine Crocodile NOCTURNAL WALLABIES & WOMBATS found in coastal river systems, can be seen at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures. WONDERS TOUR Did you know that Australia has over 70 2.00pm Join our Wildlife Keeper for species of macropods, ranging from the a short guided walk through the new tiny Musky Rat Kangaroo to the giant Red PIONEERING HISTORY Nocturnal Wonders exhibit learning Kangaroos seen in the Outback? Meet, pat Kuranda Koala Gardens is operated about Bilbies, possums and gliders.
    [Show full text]
  • These Are Fundamentally Matters of Which the Commonwealth Should Be Aware
    AUSTRALIA'S FAUNAL EXTINCTION CRISIS An inquiry into Australia's Faunal extinction crisis including the wider ecological impact of faunal extinction, the adequacy of Commonwealth environment laws, the adequacy of existing monitoring practices, assessment process and compliance mechanisms for enforcing Commonwealth environmental law, and a range of other matters. These are fundamentally matters of which the Commonwealth should be aware. PART ONE: INTRODUCTION This submission by Andrea Hylands and Peter Hylands to the Environment and Communications References Committee discusses the role of Australian Governments in creating Australia's Faunal extinction crisis. The introduction (part one) outlines the broader Australia issues, given the need for brevity, we focus our comments on the conduct of the Victorian Government in these matters (part two). What occurs in Victoria is not dissimilar to other states and territories. We summarise the key actions required from this submission in part three of this document. About Andrea Hylands Film maker and ceramic artist, former senior lecture in Ceramic Design at Monash University, former President of Craft Victoria. Andrea’s work has been collected around the world in both major public and private collections and she holds many international awards for her work including in Japan, India, USA, France, Korea and Italy including best contemporary film, FIFAV Montpellier, 2010; Gold Medal, Faenza, Italy 2005 and the Grand Prix, Vallauris, France 1992. Since 2005 awards from the digital world include multiple awards from the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (New York); Government of Madhya Pradesh, India, European web awards (for work on Brexit) and as a finalist for the United Nations Association online media awards.
    [Show full text]
  • Long-Nosed Potoroo (Potorous Tridactylus)
    Action Statement No. 254 Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, Department of Environment and Primary Industries, 8 Nicholson Street, East Melbourne, December 2013 © The State of Victoria Department of Environment and Primary Industries 2013 This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. Print managed by Finsbury Green December 2013 ISBN 978-1-74287-975-8 (Print) ISBN 978-1-74287-976-5 (pdf) Accessibility If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone DEPI Customer Service Centre 136186, email [email protected], via the National Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au This document is also available on the internet at www.depi.vic.gov.au Disclaimer This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. Cover photo: Long-nosed Potoroo at Healesville Sanctuary (Peter Menkhorst) Action Statement No. 254 Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus Description On the Australian mainland the Long-nosed Potoroo has a patchy distribution along the eastern and south- The Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) (Kerr eastern seaboard from around Gladstone in south-eastern 1972) is one of the smallest members of the kangaroo Queensland to Mt Gambier in the south-eastern corner of superfamily (the Macropodoidea) and one of 10 species South Australia (van Dyck and Strahan 2008).
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Matters Wildlife Conservancy
    australian wildlife matters wildlife conservancy Spring 2009 Pungalina reveals one of Australia’s rarest mammals Carpentarian Pseudantechinus 2 australian saving australia’s threatened wildlife wildlife Pictograph conservancy Welcome to the Spring 2009 edition of Wildlife Matters. As this edition goes to print, we are in the process of fi nalising the acquisition of Bowra (see pages 4-5), a 14,000 the awc mission hectare property located in the heart of the Mulga Lands in Queensland. Bowra will The mission of Australian Wildlife Conservancy be our 21st sanctuary, bringing the AWC network to more than 2.56 million hectares (AWC) is the effective conservation of all (6.3 million acres). Australian animal species and the habitats in While the overall scale of the portfolio is impressive, it is not the number of properties or which they live. To achieve this mission, our hectares that really count. A more accurate measure of the value of the portfolio is the actions are focused on: number of species and ecosystems that occur within the AWC estate. In this respect, • Establishing a network of sanctuaries the statistics are even more impressive – for example, around 80% of all Australian which protect threatened wildlife and terrestrial bird species and over 60% of all terrestrial mammal species occur on one or ecosystems: AWC now manages 20 more of our sanctuaries. sanctuaries covering over 2.56 million The fact that our portfolio captures such a high percentage of Australia’s wildlife species hectares (6.3 million acres). refl ects a deliberate, science-based strategy to ensure that AWC invests in properties • Implementing practical, on-ground of the highest environmental value.
    [Show full text]
  • I Wetlands Trust JERRABOMBERRA Caring for Cur Iota! ;,Cosystems
    LE G I S LA TI V E A S S EM B LY FO R TH E AU S TR A LI A N CA PI TA L TER RI TO R Y STANDING COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORT AND CITY SERVICES Ms Suzanne Orr MLA (Chair), Ms Tara Cheyne MLA, Ms Nicole Lawder MLA, Miss Candice Burch MLA Submission Cover Sheet Inquiry into a Proposal for a Mammal Emblem for the ACT Submission Number: 17 Date Authorised for Publication: 28/3/2018 1 Woodlands & MUlll6HS FLAT , I Wetlands Trust JERRABOMBERRA Caring for cur Iota! ;,cosystems 20th March 2018 The Committee Secretary Standing Committee on Environment and Transport and City Services Legislative Assembly for the ACT GPO Box 1020, CANBERRA ACT 2601 Via Email: [email protected] Dear Committee Secretary, Eastern Bettong for ACT's mammal emblem Humans haven't always been kind to bettongs The first 'rat kangaroo' collected and described by western science was taken from the Blue Mountains in 1 1819 before it fell victim to a ferocious dog while 'advancing in search of a caress' . Locally we weren't much kinder - Canberra historian, Lyall Gillespie, reported that by the 1850's we had killed large numbers of rat kangaroos because they 'dug up and ate seed potatoes as soon as they were sown'. Only 100 years after the scientific description of the bettong, now with foxes eating them and humans culling and clearing their habitat, we had cleansed the mainland of the then-considered 'pest'. 'Troughton, E. (1941) The Furred Animals of Australia.
    [Show full text]
  • Scarlett Fox, with Help from Hannah Schardt Dear Rick, G’Day from Topsy-Turvy Australia! It Might Be Late Fall Back Home, but Down Here It’S Almost Summer
    by Scarlett Fox, with help from Hannah Schardt Dear Rick, G’day from topsy-turvy Australia! It might be late fall back home, but down here it’s almost summer. (Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, so seasons here are the opposite of ours in the United States.) Seasons aren’t the only things that are different Down Under. I’ve never met so many strange animals in my life. There are mammals that lay eggs! Birds that are taller than humans! And it seems that everywhere I turn, there’s an animal with a dangerous bite. Naturally, I LOVE it here! Can’t wait to show you all the photos I’ve taken of my new Aussie friends. More later—time to head back to the Outback! (That’s the dry, wild ASIA NORTHERN middle of the country.) HEMISPHERE EQUATOR Wish you were here, Scarlett AUSTRALIA SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ANTARCTICA black-headed python eastern water dragon sugar glider emu quokka dingo ALL PHOTOS FROM MINDEN PICTURES, PAGES 6–13: JÜRGEN FREUND/NPL (6L) >; BROOK WHATNALL/NGCREATIVE 6 (6M); THOMAS MARENT (6R); ROB DRUMMOND/BIA (7L); KEVIN SCHAFER (7M) >; MARTIN WILLIS (7R) 7 TO : G’Day, Zelda! Australia is full of your cousins— Zelda Possum marsupials! As you know, marsupials The cat-sized spotted- 101 Oak Tree Lane tailed quoll is the largest (mar-SOO-pee-ulz) give birth to tiny, Deep Green Wood, USA meat-eating marsupial helpless babies. Most have pouches for in mainland Australia. carrying their babies until they are old (The Tasmanian devil is enough to follow Mom around.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change and Australia's Wildlife: Is Time Running Out?
    A JOINT REPORT PRODUCED BY WWF-AUSTRALIA & CLIMATE COUNCIL REPORT 2019 Climate change and Australia’s wildlife: Is time running out? CLIMATE CHANGE AND AUSTRALIA’S WILDLIFE: IS TIME RUNNING OUT? CLIMATE CHANGE For so long the major threats to Australia’s wildlife were known and well understood - habitat loss and fragmentation, feral predators such as foxes and cats, or IS HERE AND IT’S inappropriate fire regimes, especially in northern Australia. We’ve always known that HAVING GRAVE the impacts of climate change were looming, but it was a problem to be addressed in IMPACTS ON OUR 10, 20 or even 50 years. However, this latest Australian summer has shown us that climate change is here PRECIOUS WILDLIFE and it’s having grave impacts on our precious wildlife now. We can no longer think of NOW climate change as an issue for the future, for the next generation to deal with. We know that climate change is making our weather hotter and, in many areas, drier. Severe heatwaves are the new normal and droughts are longer and harsher. When it does rain, the downpours are becoming more intense, causing flooding such as we have recently witnessed in Townsville. A hotter, drier climate primes the bush for wildfires of increasing intensity and extent, with ecosystems such as Queensland’s rainforests and ancient Tasmanian forests suddenly now vulnerable. Marine heatwaves along Australia’s coasts are now regular events that result in extensive coral bleaching, such as we have witnessed in the summers in 2016 and 2017 on the Great Barrier Reef.
    [Show full text]