The Animals of Australia

Search This Blog

Where to watch Wombats in Tasmania

January 11, 2016

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Zoo

National Park

Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Comments

Golden Brushtail Possum

Trichosurus vulpecula DON’T LET THEM FOX YOU Pure golden brushtail possums are occasionally seen in the wild. They are not albinos, but are a rare colour variation. In some areas they are more common because the gene responsible for the golden colour may be passed on within a local population. They are unique to Tasmania. Brushtail possums can vary considerably in size and colour. In the drier bush of Tasmania they tend to be silver grey, grading towards almost black in the denser, wetter forests. What advantage do you think this has? Many of the almost black brush tail possums that are killed on the road are mistakenly identiﬁed as devils. The giveaway is that most devils have a white patch on their body. Could it also be that sometimes the Golden Possum has been identiﬁed as a fox, particularly as its eyes show red at night? Again, a fox has a white tip to its tail. KEEPING THE BALANCE Brushtails feed mainly on the leaves, fruits, buds and bark of trees and...

Cockatoo

Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita WHO’S A CLEVER BIRD? ‘Cockies’ are the most curious, intelligent and talkative of all parrots. Their raucous ‘aarch, aarch' screeching is often heard in the forests and woodlands of eastern and southeast Australia, including Tasmania. Their fluorescent yellow crest is raised in alarm - or to impress a female. NUT CRACKERS The cockie’s amazingly powerful and flexible bill can crack nuts and rip branches open to get at grubs. This versatile bill is also used to assist climbing. The solid, agile tongue helps the birds to swallow their food very quickly. Notice that two toes point forwards and two point backwards. This allows cockatoos to climb well and manipulate objects precisely. SAFETY IN NUMBERS Parrots are unusual in combining lifelong monogamy with group living. Small to large flocks of cockatoos stay in the same area all year round. They leave their roosting trees at sunrise to fly to their feedin...

Why Koalas are in danger

Why are the trees dying? The causes of the tree deaths are complex, including an absence of fire in the landscape, changes in understorey and a high density of foliovores (leaf eating animals). The combination of these factors has led to rapid declines in the health of the rare manna gum woodland. What will happen to the Koalas? The rate of decline of the manna gum is alarming and the death of trees continues to result in welfare issues for koalas as their food source is lost. Some koalas have moved into surrounding bushland ecosystems but drastic action is required to restore the manna gum woodlands and recreate a safe habitat for koalas and other wildlife. Unless the habitat decline is addressed it is certain that this rare ecosystem will change forever and be unable to support a population of koalas. What is the community doing about it? Over the last few years the Conservation Ecology Centre has led projects to plant over 100'000 trees in Australia and to rein...

Powered by Blogger

Where to watch Wombats in Tasmania

Comments

Post a Comment