Wild Tales

Wild Tales A writer/photographer inspired by the natural world, creating children’s books, photo essays & practical guides. Australian Native Wildlife

Celebrating the animals, plants & wild places that surround us. Sparking curiosity & fostering a love of nature.

09/08/2026

Majestic, powerful and vital to healthy ecosystems, lions are facing a growing number of threats, from habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict to poaching and declining genetic diversity. Protect lions. Protect wild places

07/08/2026

Facial tumour disease hit Tassie devils hard, killing up to 95% of devils at affected locations, due to their lack of immune gene diversity - something likely to also make them more vulnerable to the H5 bird flu.

Many (but not all) Australian threatened species also have low immune gene diversity due to factors such as small population sizes and genetic bottlenecks. It is possible to determine which species through DNA analysis.

"If we worked quickly to create a national immune-risk map, wildlife managers could focus surveillance, vaccination and protection efforts on the populations likely to be at most risk.

"Importantly, they could establish new captive populations before the virus arrives, using breeding programs to maximise immune fitness and keep inbreeding to a minimum."

Say Biodiversity Council member Prof Carolyn Hogg and Prof Katherine Belov, who are wildlife genetics experts at The University of Sydney.

Learn more on The Conversation Australia + NZ
https://theconversation.com/we-dont-know-how-well-threatened-species-fight-off-bird-flu-but-we-need-to-288920

05/08/2026

The deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu has now spread from migratory birds to infect resident Australian birds. Clusters of dead birds have been found in several locations. The virus will inevitably infect other wildlife, most notably mammals.

Death rates range from 75-100% in poultry and some wild bird species. There’s great uncertainty about how big the death toll will be. Native species such as the black swan are highly vulnerable, while others may prove more resilient.

Based on overseas experience, we can expect many thousands, if not millions, of Australian birds and large numbers of mammals, to perish. Poultry will likely become infected and some beloved pets may die.

Overall, the populations of many Australian species will likely plummet. Some threatened species will move closer to extinction, and relatively safe species could become threatened.

Facing a threat like this can make us feel powerless. But as conservation professors John Woinarski, Euan Ritchie and Stephen Garnett write, there are actions we can take.

👉 Read the article: https://theconversation.com/powerless-against-bird-flu-not-entirely-here-are-8-ways-to-help-protect-australias-birds-and-mammals-288909

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03/08/2026

Nature’s greatest performer. The superb lyrebird doesn’t just sing. It weaves together the sounds of the forest into one unforgettable performance.

What makes a forest meaningful isn’t just where it is, but how it makes you feel
02/08/2026

What makes a forest meaningful isn’t just where it is, but how it makes you feel

Found close to wetlands, these tiny carnivorous plants have evolved to survive in nutrient-poor soils. The glistening “d...
31/07/2026

Found close to wetlands, these tiny carnivorous plants have evolved to survive in nutrient-poor soils. The glistening “dew” on their leaves is actually a sticky mucilage that attracts and traps small insects. As the leaf slowly curls around its prey, the plant releases enzymes to digest it, gaining valuable nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus that are scarce in the soil

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