Biodiversity Council

It’s great to see more local councils across Australia introducing 24/7 cat containment to reduce the number of pet cats roaming the streets. Cats kept securely contained indoors or in a run live much longer and healthier lives, and it helps protect our native wildlife @euanritchie.bsky.social

Indigenous-led wildlife Research Collection charts a new course for environmental management in Australia | Biodiversity Council Australia We take you through a new special collection of research that showcases some of the amazing Indigenous-led and cross-cultural wildlife research occurring in Australia.

biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/indigen...

#WildlifeResearch #Biodiversity #Conservation #IndigenousKnowledge #CulturalRespect

A new special collection, released in the journal Wildlife Research @wildliferesearchj.bsky.social, published by @csiropublishing.bsky.social, showcases some of the amazing Indigenous-led and cross-cultural wildlife research occurring in Australia 🧪

Watch the full interview in the link below.

Let’s celebrate nature’s spookiest and freakiest animals this Halloween From blood-squirting lizard eyes to zombie cockroaches, the natural world is ready for a truly terrifying Halloween.

Discover 10 of the freakiest animals in nature and how you can make Halloween safe for wildlife and the environment @aunz.theconversation.com @euanritchie.bsky.social

theconversation.com/lets-celebra...

A black background with images of a ghost bat, goblin shark, horned lizard squirting blood from its eye, and an assassin bug with killed bugs on its back. Text overlay says: Celebrate Halloween with some of nature's spookiest creatures.

🎃 You don’t have to look to the supernatural for nightmares - nature has plenty of its own. But far scarier than the most bizarre animals is the toll Halloween takes on the environment, particularly the surge in single-use plastics 🧪

What animal sends chills down your spine?

#Halloween #Wildlife

Environmental law reforms unlikely to deliver for biodiversity without major strengthening | Biodiversity Council Australia We are concerned that the Australian Government’s proposed environmental law reforms risk failing to protect nature unless key weaknesses are addressed and loopholes closed.

Read our key concerns: biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/environ...

A koala sits in the middle of a road. Text overlay says: Environmental law reforms unlikely to deliver for biodiversity without major strengthening.

Today Minister Murray Watt introduced a suite of bills to amend the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. We are concerned that the proposed reforms risk failing to protect nature unless key weaknesses are addressed and loopholes closed.

#EPBC #auspol #ausnews #biodiversity

We definitely need a more transparent accounting system that goes beyond just counting hectares of protected areas. While we may progress towards our 30 by 30 target, we won't be able to halt and reverse biodiversity loss (and extinctions) without a better strategy.

We're leading the world in mammal extinctions, that's for sure 😢

Bogong moths have started their long migration from across Australia to the Aussie alps. Invertebrates Australia is calling on citizen scientists to help keep tabs on the endangered moth by snapping pics of any sightings 🧪

Upload your pics to Moth Tracker: mothtracker.swifft.net.au

#BogongMoth

Halloween decorations in a front yard. Text overlay says: Tricks to a spooky Halloween that doesn’t harm our native wildlife

Text overlay says: Avoid artificial cobwebs that can entangle insects and birds - opt for cut-up old sheets, cheesecloth or woven string.

Text overlay says: Plastic decorations and outfits used for one night can pollute the environment for thousands of years - challenge yourself to use recycled materials or second-hand clothes.

Text overlay says: Light pollution from hanging lanterns can disrupt sleep patterns of animals and prevent foraging - cut down on Halloween lights and lean into the spooky atmosphere.

The spooky season has officially arrived 🎃 Here’s a few tricks to ensure your Halloween is fun while also keeping our native wildlife (and environment) safe 🧪

Read more: biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/the-sca...

#Halloween #Sustainability #PlasticFree #Insects #Birds

Queensland’s forests are still being bulldozed — and new parks alone won’t save them Queensland’s conservation ledger is in the red. Despite some new national parks, bulldozers are still clearing forests and vegetation across the state.

In order for Australia to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, states need to prevent land clearing in addition to creating more protected areas, particularly in high-risk regions, and restoring areas that have been heavily cleared.

Read more: theconversation.com/queenslands-...

A small kangaroo-like animal stands in dry, sandy forest. Text overlays says: New national parks alone won’t protect biodiversity - land clearing must also stop.

We welcome QLD’s effort to establish new national parks, however, the state maintains globally significant rates of land clearing. A new study, comparing rates of protection versus destruction, highlights that new parks alone won’t protect biodiversity without efforts to stop clearing elsewhere 🌍🧪

The deadly H5N1 bird flu virus strain may have reached Australia's sub-Antarctic Heard Island. Scientists have reported unusually high death rates among elephant seals, consistent with the H5N1 avian influenza virus, but the samples have not yet been tested. Learn more: bit.ly/3WT8mfD

After a 4y delay, @vicgovernment.bsky.social has released a disappointing response to the recommendations of an Expert Advisory Panel which reviewed the 1975 Wildlife Act, rejecting many critical recommendations from the Panel.

See our assessment: biodiversitycouncil....

A black and yellow bird perches on a branch. Text overlay says "Endangered regent honeyeaters released in Hunter. Small populations can need a ‘genetic’ helping hand."

Captive-bred regent honeyeaters have been released in NSW’s Hunter region to boost genetic diversity and help save the species, since fewer than 300 are left in the wild.

Read more: www.abc.net.au/news/...

@birdlifeoz.bsky.social #birds

Two new frog species and a gecko, previously unknown to science, have been found on Dauan in the northern Torres Strait. The island in Guda Maluilgal nation is just 3.4 square kilometres and contains remarkable boulder fields and Australia's northernmost granite peak.

www.abc.net.au/news/...

A white parrot-like bird looking at the camera with a leafy background. Text over the image says "Calling all citizen scientists. The 2025 Aussie Bird Count is almost here"

The 2025 Aussie Bird Count is around the corner. Running from 20-26 October, the count gathers crucial data on our country’s unique bird species, tracking which birds are thriving and which may be under threat.

Read more: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

@birdlifeoz.bsky.social #ausbird

And then there were none: Australia’s only shrew declared extinct Australia’s only known shrew has been declared extinct. Its loss emphasises the need for national protection of Australia’s rare and unique wildlife.

Read more @aunz.theconversation.com, article by Biodiversity Council member Prof John Woinarski.
theconversation.com/and-then-the...

A photo of a small, black-furred shrew climbing on a branch with text overlay that says "Australia’s only shrew declared extinct. Australia continues to lead the world in mammal extinctions."

Australia’s only shrew has been declared extinct. Australia leads the world in mammal extinctions and ranks second for loss of biodiversity. We need better funding for conservation action and stronger environmental laws to uphold our international commitments to prevent further extinctions 🧪

These little bettongs were wiped out in South Australia a century ago. Now they’re thriving alongside foxes and feral cats Predatory foxes and cats prowl South Australia’s national parks. But the successful reintroduction of an endangered bettong proves coexistence is possible.

Read more @aunz.theconversation.com @chloefrick.bsky.social theconversation.com/these-little...

Read the paper: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#NewResearch #ScienceNews #Conservation #Biodiversity #Woylie #Bettong #NationalPark

A small, wallaby-like animal stands on its hind-legs. Text overlay says: New science - Brush-tailed bettongs reintroduced to SA National Park after over 100 years.

🧪 Science Spotlight 🧪 Researchers have successfully reintroduced brush-tailed bettongs into a National Park, despite the presence of feral predators like cats and foxes.

Bettongs sourced from populations with larger body sizes and previous predator exposure survived better.

🌸 Spring has arrived in Australia, meaning native bees are buzzing around searching for food, mates and suitable nesting sites.

Now is the perfect time to provide habitat for our pollinating friends by building a bee hotel 🐝🧪

biodiversitycouncil.org.au/resources/bu...

With the passing of Dr Jane Goodall, the world has lost a pioneering researcher, animal-welfare advocate and conservationist. Her tireless advocacy inspired generations to protect nature and her legacy will continue to shape conservation for decades to come.

theconversation.com/...

From frog saunas to butterfly puddles: 8 ways to turn your homes into a wildlife refuge Urban sprawl has forced native animals and humans to live close together. Here are eight ways to make your home a refuge for wildlife.

Read more about how you can turn your home into a wildlife refuge @aunz.theconversation.com @icon-science.bsky.social

theconversation.com/from-frog-sa...

An illustration of an urban space with lots of greenery. Text overlay says: How can we invite wildlife back into our cities? Explore solutions in the new artwork When Wildlife Moves In.

What if we changed urban spaces to invite wildlife back into our cities rather than forcing them out? When Wildlife Moves In, a new work at the National Gallery of Victoria, explores ways our homes can be designed to help wildlife live among us, benefiting human health 🧪

whenwildlifemovesin.com

Great Southern Reef monitoring program needed to plug major data gaps in understanding SA bloom | Biodiversity Council Australia Experts call for an effective government-supported monitoring program to be established for the Great Southern Reef, with funding at least equivalent to the Great Barrier Reef’s monitoring program.

Read more: biodiversitycouncil.org.au/news/great-s...

@greatsouthernreef.bsky.social @marineconservation.org.au @nature.org

The Great Southern Reef, which supports $11.5B/year in fisheries and tourism, lacks a coordinated government monitoring program despite its size and value. At a Senate inquiry last week, we presented the case to establish a monitoring program for the reef to protect this vital ecosystem 🦑

Three cats sit calmly on an indoor cat tree. Text overlay says: WA Government set to allow local councils to stop pet cats from roaming; A win-win-win solution for wildlife, cats and human health

It’s great to see WA Gov has committed to improving its state cat laws to enable local governments to prevent pet cats from roaming; a win-win-win solution for wildlife, cats and human health. NSW is now the only state who hasn't updated their laws.

@drbrucewebber.bsky.social #cats #biodiversity

To help, consider contributing to public databases like @inaturalist.bsky.social

📷 Snap pics as part of the Great Southern BioBlitz @gsbioblitz.bsky.social : www.greatsouthernbioblitz.org/about

🐞 Get involved in the Christmas beetle count over summer: www.inaturalist.org/projects/chr...