Chlamydia is one of several threats facing koalas, which are listed as endangered in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. Antibiotics can harm the gut microbes koalas need to digest eucalypt leaves, and some strains have become resistant. A single-dose vaccine developed by University of the Sunshine Coast researchers was approved in September 2025. University of Queensland professor Keith Chappell has questioned its efficacy, saying a data error affected the results. The university has defended its research, and the regulator says the vaccine is only permitted to aid in reducing clinical signs of the disease.
Officials, scientists and environmentalists are meeting in Yerevan for Cop17, where nearly 200 countries must agree on a plan to speed up nature targets set for 2030. Those goals are far off track. A rare Persian leopard was recently spotted in Armenia, where only about 10 are thought to remain. A new initiative, the Coalition of Action to Recover Endangered Species, was announced to help governments decide where to focus efforts. Private funders have pledged more than $500m over five years to recover threatened species.
Cave divers are searching for a rare colony of endangered ghost bats in Queensland's outback after flooding in 2023. The bats, which are Australia's largest carnivorous species, were feared wiped out by the floodwaters. Preliminary testing has confirmed their survival, but researchers found the population is genetically isolated and dwindling. The Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is leading the project to understand and protect the bats.
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An endangered dusky shark named Bukangi has been trapped in a canal in the South Korean port city of Busan for almost a month. Authorities have made three attempts to guide her back to the ocean, including a large operation on Wednesday, but she swam back into the canal. The oceans ministry says she is in stable condition, though officials are concerned she has not been feeding regularly. A researcher suggests giving her about a week to leave on her own. Her popularity has drawn more than 1.6 million visitors to the city.
Camels, banteng and hog deer that are endangered or extinct in the wild in their original homelands now roam Australia in large numbers. Dromedary camels were released in the early 20th century, and banteng were left behind after a British settlement near Darwin was abandoned. Researchers argue that Australia could act as a last refuge for these species. Some experts want to protect these populations instead of culling them, though the debate over introduced species remains divided.
Tasmania has more than 200 native orchid species, and 77 are listed as threatened under state law. The Landscape Recovery Foundation says the combined effect of many visitors, often spurred by social media posts, is one of the biggest threats. The group has held workshops for photographers and offered tips to limit their impact. It is also propagating the critically endangered golfers leek orchid, which has been grown successfully after eight years of work. A scent detection dog named Miki has helped locate orchids that surveyors had walked past, including tiny seedlings.
The environmental impact statement for the New England Renewable Energy Zone transmission line shows the project would clear 3,203 hectares of native vegetation. It would also affect 15 plants, animals and ecological communities at risk of serious and irreversible damage. Among them is the critically endangered New England Peppermint grassy woodland, with 146.75 hectares directly affected. EnergyCo says the impacts must first be avoided, then reduced, and finally offset. Submissions on the statement close on Thursday, 12 November.
A Griffith University PhD student, Aster Stevanovic, is studying what limits the spread of the rainforest vine that the endangered Southern Pink Underwing Moth depends on. The moth feeds only on Carronia multisepalea, which grows in northern New South Wales and south east Queensland. Stevanovic will set up 20 plots across five habitat types, planting seedlings and seeds in each. Beechmont Landcare is helping to find suitable sites. The experiment runs from March 2027 to March 2028, with regular visits to clear weeds and monitor plant survival.
Millions of endangered Bogong moths have been pushed toward the Bass Coast and South Gippsland by strong north-westerly winds. Zoos Victoria's Moth Tracker has already logged more sightings this season than last year's total. Dr Marissa Parrott, a senior conservation biologist, said the swarms were a wonderful sight. She advised residents to turn off unnecessary lights, avoid insecticides and gently release any moths found indoors. The species collapsed between 2017 and 2019 and was listed as endangered in 2021.
Cape York Indigenous rangers and a consulting biologist have trekked more than 60 kilometres to search for endangered palm cockatoos. The team is retracing its 2024 survey route, not knowing how many birds survived Tropical Cyclone Narelle. The 2024 survey found 36 palm cockatoos, mostly along the Wenlock River. Results of the latest survey are due soon. A Queensland Government grant of more than $69,300 is funding a strategic burning project to protect the birds' habitat.
A columnist says a South Coast holiday has been overrun by bogong moths, which are settling in homes and clothing. Zoos Victoria senior conservation biologist Marissa Parrott says this is the best year for the species in nearly a decade, after its numbers collapsed around 2017 to 2019. The columnist says the moths are only passing through on their way to the Australian Alps, and calls for them to move on quickly.
A new Macquarie University study has found genetic differences between northern and southern brolga populations. Brolgas in Victoria, where they are listed as endangered, number as low as 1,000. Researchers found little genetic variation among Victorian birds, which could limit their ability to survive extreme events. Lead researcher Abby Bryce linked the decline to lost wetland habitat and climate change. Restoration projects, including at Tae Rak and Green Swamp, have seen birds return to wetlands.
A critically endangered snail has been found in western NSW, with colonies identified in weirs on the Darling and Barwon rivers. Ecologists say human-made water infrastructure, once a threat, has become a habitat for the molluscs. Aboriginal rangers confirmed the discovery, with signs of breeding raising hopes for the species' survival. The NSW government is working on a research project to translocate and repopulate the snail.
