Animals
The end of venom? Sydney scientists find new cure for flesh-eating snake bites
A bold new technique for finding antidotes for box jellyfish stings, vipers’ venom, and death cap mushrooms has emerged from a Sydney lab.
- by Angus Dalton
Latest
Common product banned around the world is killing our owls
Powerful owls predate on possums, snatching as many as 250 a year. But those possums are increasingly falling prey to another predator: rat poison.
- by Bianca Hall
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Greyhound racing
The drugs that make dogs’ bones shatter
The state government moved to head off mounting controversy over allegations of horrific animal cruelty by announcing a review into the greyhound industry.
- by Christopher Harris and Jordan Baker
Black swans in ‘significant peril’ from bird flu
Australia’s poultry industry is grappling with an outbreak of H7 bird flu, but the H5N1 strain, which has spread to every other continent, could wipe out native species.
- by Mike Foley
The world’s toughest lion broke an epic record. Australians were filming
Jacob the lion has survived being mauled, trapped and gored. Now his life – charted by an Australian biologist – has a dramatic new chapter.
- by Angus Dalton
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Greyhound racing
New details of horrific cruelty emerge as premier backs greyhound racing
An explosive report by greyhound racing’s former chief vet alleges a litany of welfare issues ranging from appalling animal distress to the discovery of burned and frozen carcasses.
- by Jordan Baker
Premier rules out shutting down greyhound racing in NSW after explosive report
Chris Minns says greyhound racing will continue in NSW, but has promised an investigation into allegations of systemic animal welfare issues.
- by Christopher Harris
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Greyhound racing
Explosive report alleges ‘morass of exploitation and suffering’ in NSW greyhound racing
The former chief vet at Greyhound Racing NSW has claimed that the industry is barbaric, immoral and unsustainable, and leaders are inflating the number of re-homed dogs.
- by Jordan Baker
‘Incredible’ first-time footage reveals intimate life of blue whales
A decade-long Australian citizen science project has unveiled the extraordinary videos.
- by Angus Dalton
The platypus ‘hoax’ that tricked the world, but illuminated a different animal wonder
One viral specimen had platypus experts snatching up UV torches. They were sorely disappointed – but many other animals glow brilliantly after dark.
- by Angus Dalton
Lone Pine sanctuary in Brisbane bans koala cuddles
The Brisbane koala sanctuary has ended the popular practice at the tourist attraction, citing “increasingly strong” visitor feedback.
- by Cameron Atfield