Greater gliders are dependent on tree hollows for survival, however limited data exist for their hollow preferences. Our study found variable hollow types and shapes, however most hollows had thick walls and were deep, likely related to insulative properties. This information is important for targeted tree hollow preservation and nest box designs for greater gliders.

To effectively conserve species, we must have a good understanding of the habitats that they use or avoid. We investigated the habitat use of the endangered northern quoll and found that they primarily selected areas with higher proportions of rugged, rocky habitat and riverbed, and avoided areas with higher proportions of spinifex sandplain – a habitat that caused quolls to have larger activity areas. These findings will inform conservation efforts to increase the protection of key habitats for the endangered northern quoll. Photograph by Judy Dunlop.

Population trajectories of regional koala populations in Queensland are rarely documented and hence poorly understood. We studied the koala population of the Clarke Connors Range in central Queensland and contrast elements of their distribution, health and genetics with information from two other study sites in Queensland. Koalas were found across the range, were mostly located in E. drepanophylla or E. tereticornis and had wide variability in movement patterns. Some 40% of females carried young in Spring and very few individuals returned PCR positive chlamydial swabs, commensurate with a low rate of observable disease signs. We present genotypes from the Clarke Connors Range, St Bees Island and The Brisbane valley for further analysis.

Tasmanian populations of the eastern quoll Dasyurus viverrinus, which represent the last wild stronghold of this species after its extirpation from the Australian mainland, have experienced declines of more than 50% over the past three decades. We investigate the feasibility of releasing captive-bred individuals to supplement wild populations, and show that released animals survive longer and disperse less relative to reintroduction attempts on the Australian mainland. Our preliminary results support the use of population supplementation early in the trajectory of species decline. Photograph by Rowena Hamer.

Initial translocations of animals are risky because of uncertainty as to how each species will respond to being released to a new environment, so the choice of release protocols is important. We tested whether confinement in release pens or releasing females with young, improved translocation success for the first ever release of crest-tailed mulgara. Releasing females with pouch young led to a rapid population increase and helped to mitigate the dispersal of all released males from the site. Photograph by Wild Deserts.

Male spinifex hopping mice have unusual reproductive biology, but little is known about the underlying physiological mechanisms. We compared two assays to monitor testicular activity via faeces, and while both were physiologically validated, one assay was more sensitive. This provides a useful tool for studying reproduction in this interesting Australian native rodent. Photograph by Kelly Williams-Kelly.

In 2018 12 adult western quolls were reintroduced to a fenced reserve with 30 offspring produced in the first year. We used DNA to assess pedigrees and found that 65% of offspring were fathered by one male. We tried to work out why he was the most successful and include some notes for future quoll reintroductions.

The tongue of mammals provides an important means of interacting with the environment through various functions including taste, food manipulation and drinking. We investigated the tongues of the rakali and greater stick-nest rat, and found features that reflect the different environments and diets of these two native Australian rodents.

Understanding and measuring the behaviour of wild animals is important for implementing effective management strategies. In this study, we describe a new method built around existing monitoring techniques (cage-trapping) that measures how agitated or bold a woylie (brush tailed bettong) is. After trials on two woylie populations, the method proved successful, showing consistent responses from the same individuals, making it a valuable tool for preserving and managing populations of woylies and other mammals. Photograph by Natasha Harrison.

Large numbers of injured and orphaned flying-foxes are rescued and rehabilitated annually but there is almost nothing reported in the scientific literature concerning post-release survivorship in flying-foxes. We report a case of a hand-reared grey-headed flying-fox (Pteropus poliocephalus) that was released in 2004 and recovered alive in 2022, reconciled as the same individual through a unique identification number on a metal band that had been fitted to the bat’s thumb. This provides clear evidence of post-release survivorship of 18 years in this flying-fox. Photograph by Janine Davies.

Common brushtail possums were trapped at least once per year between 2010 and 2022. We found that possums were more readily trapped in years where there had been lower rainfall in the preceding months. This was likely because these semi-arboreal mammals were travelling more at ground level in years of lower rainfall in search of food.