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What are the benefits of being identified with the Australian

Wildlife Society?

Here are some to be considered.

Durability: The Australian Wildlife Society (previously known as the

Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia Limited) is one of

Australia’s oldest wildlife conservation organisation. Founded in

May 1909, it has served Australia for over 100 years. The Society

has survived two world wars, economic depressions, and social

turmoil. Our brand image is one of endurance – we have always

been here and we will always be here!

Service: The Australian Wildlife Society has been served by

committed volunteers throughout its entire existence for more than

100 years. Without any form of Government financial assistance,

which some other conservation organisations enjoy, we have fought

for the conservation and welfare of Australia’s unique wildlife

without fear or favour and have achieved many remarkable

victories. We are still an organisation of volunteers willing to give

our own time free for the benefit of the wider Australian community.

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Integrity: Due to our heritage and committed service we have earned the respect of other conservation

organisations as well as Governments and agencies. As a result, we have been invited to sit on

Government advisory panels and agency committees i.e. Kangaroo Management Advisory Panel, NSW

Pest Animal Council and Greater Sydney Regional Pest Animal Management Committee, local

government strategic planning advisory committees etc. We have developed a set of well-considered

policies which are publicly available on our website.

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Genuineness: The Australian Wildlife Society focuses on the welfare of all Australian wildlife. We are

strongly identified with Australia. The echidna on our logo has been identified with us long before it

appeared on Australia’s five-cent coin. As an early conservationist said, we are ‘down to earth’ in our

wildlife conservation work, like the echidna. We are the epitome of genuine Australianness.

Any organisation that wishes to project an image of durability, service, integrity, and genuineness can do

no better than identify itself with the Australian Wildlife Society.

'On the nose': Australians' views favour conservation, curbs on coal.

The overwhelming majority of Australians think climate change is real, about two-thirds view themselves

to be environmentalists "at heart", and just over half say the government should not allow new coal mines

in the country, according to data gathered by WWF.

Combining attitudes towards nature collected over two decades with a wide-ranging survey of 1,800

respondents at the end of last year, the groups found a strong - and lately, rising - interest in protecting

habitats on land and sea.

The Great Barrier Reef was chosen by 89 percent of those surveyed in the Backyard Barometer Report as

one of the top three places to protect, ahead of the Daintree rainforests of north Queensland and

Tasmania's forests - both at 38 percent.

Photo : Sailaway Port Douglas

Rare WA 'armoured' spiders under threat from habitat destruction.

Rare, armoured trapdoor spiders native to Western Australia have already been added to the threatened

species list, despite being just recently discovered.

Dr Michael Rix, the lead scientist of a research team studying the invertebrates, said the species were

very distinct from other trapdoor spiders as they possessed armoured shields or "body armour" to defend

against natural predators — something only a few spiders in the world are able to do.

"This entire group, we refer to them as shield-back trapdoor spiders — they have these modified

abdomens that are thickened and reinforced," he said.

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A female Idiosoma schoknechtorum, or armoured trapdoor spider.

Photo : WA Museum

Will the carp herpesvirus help or hinder Australian water's native species?

Research to be presented at the International Water Conference has found a mass carp culling could

have a major impact on native flora and fauna due to the amount of biomass in Australia's waterways.

Outdoor tanks set up in Prospect Reservoir, which supplies water to Sydney, were filled with different

quantities of dead carp as part of a risk assessment by Water NSW.

The loads of virus-free fish varied from 250 to 6,000 kilograms per hectare and in every case but one the

oxygen levels in the water dropped to zero.

"Above 1,000 kilograms per hectare the dissolved oxygen stayed at zero for up to five days," lead

researcher Joe Pera said.

In every tank, there was a spike in nutrients, bacteria, and algae with the levels increasing as the number

of dead carp went up.

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Each of these tanks were filled with different quantities of dead carp as part of a risk assessment by Water NSW.

Photo : Joe Pera

Australia was once full of flamingos.

These iconic pink birds are more associated with Africa and the Americas, but they once also called

Australia home.

Australia was once a land graced by flamingos. For at least 20 million years the big pink birds fed on vast

inland lakes, until a drying of the outback ended their reign, perhaps a million years ago.

The Lake Eyre region at one time had three species, more than Africa today. Australia has had at least six

species altogether, including the greater flamingo – the main flamingo in Africa. Our museums have

accumulated more of their fossils than of some regular Australian birds such as parrots. At some sites

their remains lay near those of outback crocodiles, dolphins and lungfish.

Read More...

Photo : Pedros Szekely

Brush-tailed rock wallaby survey at Jenolan Caves.

The "Saving Our Species" short video regarding the successful re-introduction of rock wallabies at

Jenolan Caves can be viewed by clicking on the button below.

Watch Now...

Invasive 'crazy' ant species discovered in New South Wales.

An invasive ant species capable of causing blindness and decimating crops has been discovered infesting

the CBD of a town on the north coast of New South Wales.

Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services staff have confirmed the presence of yellow

crazy ant in Lismore and have begun a surveillance and identification operation.

It is the first time in more than a decade the destructive species has been found in New South Wales

since it was eradicated from Goodwood Island in the Clarence River in 2008.

James Cook University invasive species expert Lori Lach said an outbreak of yellow crazy ant was a

serious concern.

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Foto of the Fortnight...

They decorated your classrooms, your bedrooms and even the back of your toilet door. Australian

Geographic posters have, since the magazines inception, played an important part in informing our

readership about the incredible flora and fauna, landscapes and history of Australia. Here, you can

explore over 30 years of Australian Geographic pull-out posters: https://goo.gl/2uyF7g

Copyright © 2018 The Australian Wildlife Society, All rights reserved.

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