Bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) are native Australian marsupials. Since European arrival, the wombat has lost habitat and population numbers through a number of threats including road kill, introduced species, disease and culling. This review provides an overview of current research on wombats, focusing on their distribution, population and threats. The gaps identified through this review include distribution, population numbers and threat mitigation. Further research in these areas is necessary to improve species conservation. Photograph by Julie Old.

The most comprehensive molecular phylogeny for Phalangeridae to date is produced based on mMitochondrial ND2 DNA. The analysis reveals the need to re-examine all specimens currently identified as ‘Phalanger orientalis’, while finding strong support for the monophyly of the three phalangerid subfamilies (Trichosurinae, Ailuropinae, Phalangerinae), and the elevation of P. orientalis breviceps to species level. Photograph by Sue O’Connor.

The Australian water-rat, Hydromys chrysogaster, is a native Australian mammal that is frequently encountered on rivers and streams even in some capital cities. It’s closest relatives occur in New Guinea and, although a native rodent, it is highly adapted for aquatic life and is an excellent swimmer. Water-rats are carnivorous and hence ecologically in some ways like an otter, feeding on aquatic animals including fish. In this study we investigate the water-rat population on The River Torrens in Adelaide. Photograph by Greg Coote.

This study investigates the maternal care given to platypus nestlings and describes a technique to study animals in a burrow. Platypus nestlings develop quickly over four months. The mother has high energy requirements for lactation, increasing her food intake by double towards the end. Weaning occurred rapidly at the time of emergence. This paper is the first to describe the growth and development of platypus nestlings at known ages. Photograph by Jessica Thomas.

Expanding populations of wild deer are increasing the risk of deer-vehicle collisions (DVC) in south-east Australia. This study employs an existing conceptual risk model to predict where DVC are likely to take place. We make plausible predictions of DVC risk across the Victorian road network and identify three areas of increased collision risk. We make recommendations for the development of a deer collision register to provide more detailed data for further investigation of DVC trends. Photograph by Chris Watson.

The study documents the echolocation signature of Setirostris eleryi in central Australia, a region where it was virtually unknown. Relationships published in recent literature are used to derive its usual foraging strategy, microhabitat and flight speed from the echolocation recordings. Finally, these deductions are assessed in terms of its flight morphology and available field observations to characterise aspects of its distinct foraging niche within the region’s bat fauna.

A paucity of knowledge surrounding many aspects of sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) ecology is impeding management of the species. This study used camera traps to investigate sambar deer detectability and activity patterns in Baw Baw National Park (BBNP), Victoria. We show that sambar deer in BBNP display crepuscular activity patterns and are more detectable in proximity to roads and in areas of sparse tree density. This information can guide sambar deer control efforts such as ground and aerial shooting. Photograph by Chris Davies.

Since the late 1970s, swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) have dramatically extended their distribution from limited coastal habitats in south-western Victoria and have increasingly occupied mallee woodland habitats much drier than those initially recorded. Possible causes underlying this change in distribution are discussed; some seem unlikely but, because wallabies began spreading soon after the introduction of European rabbit fleas as vectors of myxomatosis, the cumulative effects of releases of biological agents to control rabbits appear important. Photograph by Pam Cooke.

Surveys were conducted to determine if thermal cameras could be used to improve the detection of bilbies in comparison with spotlights. On average, thermal imaging detected around twice the number of bilbies than spotlights resulting in more reliable estimates of density.

The capture of wild koalas is necessary for research and population management. As an iconic species, methods to capture koalas receive disproportionate scrutiny. We reviewed the duration and outcome of 1236 koala captures utilising the ‘noose and flag’ method. Adverse events occurred in less than 1% of all captures. Our review suggests that this is an effective and safe capture method that minimises the duration of distress to koalas and allows for capture of multiple individuals in a short period and is suitable for most habitat types. Photograph by George Madani.

This study compared two bait station methods for identifying individuals and determining the sex of spotted-tailed quolls using camera traps. We describe a new bait station technique which involved using a raised bait canister to encourage quolls to present their ventral surface to the camera by standing on their hind legs. We found that the bait bag method was better for detecting quolls and the bait canister method was more effective for determining sex of individuals. Photograph by Jesse Rowland.

This paper reports on an observation of carnivorous scavenging by euros (inland wallaroos) (Macropus robustus erubescens) at Fowlers Gap in western New South Wales. We believe this to be the first sighting of a euro feeding on another macropod. Photograph by Matthew Brun.

Genetic studies are called for to shed light on the identity of the holotype of Murexia longicaudata, the skull and dentaries of which appear to be either mismatched or abnormal. Photograph by T. F. Flannery.

The black flying-fox increasingly co-occurs with the grey-headed flying-fox in New South Wales. We investigated the diet of both species over one night at four sites of co-occurrence. Differences in diet between the two species were found, with the black-flying fox either preferentially choosing to eat more fruit than the grey-headed flying-fox or being an inferior competitor for pollen and nectar. Our results do not support the hypothesis that the black flying-fox threatens the vulnerable grey-headed flying-fox through food competition. Photograph by Phoebe Griffith.

The endangered population of greater gliders found at Seven Mile Beach National Park on the NSW South Coast was surveyed by trialing thermal imaging camera technology. We compared the use of a traditional handheld spotlight and a thermal camera to show that thermal cameras were better able to detect arboreal mammals overall but not better at detecting greater gliders. More research using thermal cameras is needed to refine and enhance their use in threatened mammal surveys. Photograph by Monica Knipler.

The effectiveness of wombat gates to allow passage of common wombats (Vombatus ursinus) while excluding other browsing mammals was investigated on a grazing property using camera-traps. Wombats passed through the gates frequently compared with pademelons (Thylogale billardierii) and wallabies (Notamacropus rufogriseus). Female wombats with young-at-foot passed through the gates together; however, occasionally they became separated on either side. Wombat gates were effective in providing passage for wombats and restricting passage by browsing macropods and in reducing damage to fences. Photograph from camera trap set by M. M. Driessen.

We used heat- and motion-sensing cameras to record the behaviour of koalas in cage traps, and the duration spent in traps. Koalas spent 6.3–181.2 min in traps and 8 of 12 koalas displayed heightened behavioural responses. We found that traps were effective for capturing koalas; however, to minimise overt behavioural responses by trapped koalas, trap-check intervals need to be as short as possible. We recommend the use of trap-trigger devices to alert personnel when a koala is trapped. Photograph by Esther Wong.

Tall wooden poles (glide poles) are being increasingly installed on highway upgrades in eastern Australia to enable gliding mammals to cross road corridors. We monitored two glide poles in the median of the Pacific Highway at Halfway Creek, northeast NSW and detected yellow-bellied gliders (Petaurus australis) on nine occasions. This is the first definitive evidence of use of glide poles to cross a highway corridor by this species and reinforces their potential for restoring connectivity where major roads bisect forest habitat. Photograph extracted from video footage.