Environment
Conservation
The dirty history of ‘Nukey Poo’, the reactor that soiled the Antarctic
At an American base on NZ-claimed Antarctic territory, a small nuclear reactor was once installed to provide energy and save money. The after-effects are still being felt.
- by Nick O'Malley
Latest
Bone found at Balmoral Beach reveals origins of Australia’s apex predator
When Sally Wasef sent a bone found in an exclusive Sydney enclave off for carbon testing, she thought it would be a couple of hundred years old. She was wrong.
- by Catherine Naylor
Exclusive
Heritage
Ray of hope for beach shack owners in the Royal National Park
The beach communities at Little Garie, Era and Burning Palms in Australia’s oldest national park are heritage listed. Their licences expire in March 2027, and the government is yet to decide what happens after that.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
The biggest threat to whales
Entanglements with fishing gear is the biggest killer of whales and dolphins.
Exclusive
Charity
Admin costs soar as wildlife charity yet to spend bushfire money
The biggest wildlife rescue organisation in Australia, WIRES, raised more than $100 million during the Black Summer bushfires. It wants to reduce oversight of the remaining $69 million.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Only the lonely: How regent honeyeaters are learning to sing again
The critically endangered birds made worldwide headlines when researchers discovered they were losing their songs. Now, there are signs efforts to teach them are working.
- by Bianca Hall
The endangered songbird learning its song again
Regent honeyeaters made worldwide headlines when researchers discovered they were losing their songs. Now, there are signs efforts to teach them are working.
Exclusive
Biodiversity
‘Show them to me’: Victoria accused of vastly exaggerating koala counts
The Australian Koala Foundation has lashed out at the state government’s koala strategy, saying it inflates the population size by potentially more than 20 times.
- by Bianca Hall
ABC reporting on brumbies lacked accuracy, impartiality: ombudsman
The ABC Ombudsman criticised three news bulletins that included unsubstantiated claims challenging the science behind the feral horse population estimate, but declined to rule on the journalist’s personal use of social media.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Tex Perkins rallied to save it, but ‘world-class’ wildlife hospital could still close
Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, a registered charity, has treated more than 7000 creatures since it opened in October 2020.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons
Analysis
Endangered species
Why can’t Forestry find any gliders, when everyone else can?
It has all the ingredients of a Monty Python sketch: bureaucrats shuffling around a forest looking for nocturnal animals in the middle of the day.
- by Caitlin Fitzsimmons