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Conservation

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Feral dogs in this Himalayan region are outcompeting snow leopards

Feral dogs in this Himalayan region are outcompeting snow leopards

It started with a population of street dogs in the towns of Ladakh, India. Now 25,000 dogs are running rampant in the cold desert, hunting wildlife.

  • by Emily Anthes

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Mountains of seaweed choke Sydney beaches as heatwave approaches

Mountains of seaweed choke Sydney beaches as heatwave approaches

Among the most affected beaches is Dee Why, where piles of kelp are up to 1.5 metres deep.

  • by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Great white shark caught and released off Barwon Heads
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Great white shark caught and released off Barwon Heads

Oscar Ford reeled in a great white shark while fishing off Barwon Heads in Victoria on December 28, 2025. Credit: YouTube/Flickin' with Oz

Fresh logs piled high in Wombat State Forest revive concern about removing fallen trees

Fresh logs piled high in Wombat State Forest revive concern about removing fallen trees

The forest will become a national park next year, but contractors are now removing more timber from the forest than before the ban on commercial native logging.

  • by Bianca Hall
Tracy’s wildlife care landed her with a criminal record. Was she unfairly treated?

Tracy’s wildlife care landed her with a criminal record. Was she unfairly treated?

An expert who taught former WIRES volunteer Tracy Dods how to care for injured kangaroos told the District Court the prosecution was “unfair and unfounded”.

  • by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
The fight to save Australian owls from common poisons

The fight to save Australian owls from common poisons

Owls are an important predator in Australia, but the poisons in the rodents they catch are killing them.

  • by Bianca Hall
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Wombats leave square poo on rocks and logs. Scientists think they know why

Wombats leave square poo on rocks and logs. Scientists think they know why

Wombats are mostly solitary creatures, but they share a communal latrine. Could the animals be leaving each other messages encoded in poo?

  • by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
The ‘surprising’ discovery about dolphin friendship

The ‘surprising’ discovery about dolphin friendship

Scientists found dolphins with strong social bonds age more slowly at a cellular level, but the size of the friendship network matters.

  • by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
It’s gruesome work, but on Kangaroo Island, it’s one of the best things an animal lover can do

It’s gruesome work, but on Kangaroo Island, it’s one of the best things an animal lover can do

When it comes to eradicating feral animals, islands across the world are a success story. Kangaroo Island is keen to reap the benefits.

  • by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Farmers’ campaign against feral deer trapped in Victoria’s red tape

Farmers’ campaign against feral deer trapped in Victoria’s red tape

Marie and David Trigg have fought for three years to control feral deer on their property, but say they have been met with bureaucratic delay.

  • by Bianca Hall
What the state’s growing system of shark sensors is telling us

What the state’s growing system of shark sensors is telling us

Catching, tagging and releasing three species of sharks most commonly involved in biting humans is providing critical intelligence to marine scientists.

  • by Caitlin Fitzsimmons