News: conservation
Human activity contributed to woolly rhinoceros’ extinction
![coelodonta. Credit Mauricio Anton](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2024-06/coelodonta-cropped-credit-mauricio-anton.jpg?h=8ed35025&itok=h70ALy_A)
Researchers have discovered sustained hunting by humans prevented the woolly rhinoceros from accessing favourable habitats as Earth warmed following the Last Ice Age.
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Australian shallow reefs in decline
![Australian shallow reefs in decline](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2023-03/lonsdalereef_victoria_by-antonia-cooper2-resized.jpg?h=e4586cc3&itok=w7wHRmxo)
Marine life being out of sight, does not mean it is out of trouble.
Citizens recruited to unlock the secret lives of echidnas
![Echidna image](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2022-01/echidna-takes-a-drink-at-a-bird-bath.jpg?h=30c08e7f&itok=N2xNcAm6)
Researchers at the University of Adelaide’s Environment Institute and members of the general public have recorded the largest number of echidna sightings across Australia to aid in the conservation of the iconic mammal.
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EchidnaCSI recognised as a top Citizen of Science
![EchidnaCSI wins Citizen Science Award for Outstanding Science](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2021-11/echidnacsiacceptingaward4a_0.jpg?h=4c8795a8&itok=R8d9bd3g)
The University of Adelaide’s Echidna Conservation Science Initiative (EchidnaCSI) has received the Citizen Science Award for Outstanding Science at the inaugural awards for Citizen Science Projects in South Australia.
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Bat souvenir trade & risks to public health
![Bat speciman](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2021-10/bat-speciman-sold-on-ebay-small.jpg?h=8f5db356&itok=CuliDGR5)
Little is known about the global bat souvenir trade, its extent and impact on bat populations and forest ecosystems, and the potential risks posed to public health with bats known carriers of zoonotic diseases.
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Echidna conservation science initiative a finalist in Eureka Awards
![Echidna with alpacas](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2021-09/photo-1-echidnacsi-small.jpg?h=8f74817f&itok=PQ_l8coZ)
The University of Adelaide’s Echidna Conservation Science Initiative (EchidnaCSI) is a finalist in the Australian Museum’s 2021 Eureka Prizes.
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Echidnas, poop and creepy crawlies
![Echidna in the wild](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2021-08/echidna-in-the-wild.jpg?h=d1fa73b1&itok=NYfSt4FN)
Leading science communicators from the University of Adelaide will join forces with a local echidna ecologist, to share their expertise in echidnas and insects in a free, interactive workshop on Kangaroo Island, as part of National Science Week (14-22 August).
Video platforms normalise exotic pets
![Tiger in the wild image](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2021-05/tiger-2530158-image-by-david-mark-from-pixabay-2.jpg?h=bd19c6cd&itok=amwq5Dov)
Researchers at the University of Adelaide are concerned video sharing platforms such as YouTube could be contributing to the normalisation of exotic pets and encouraging the exotic pet trade.
Supporting the recovery of Adelaide Hills wildlife
![Image of an antechinus](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2021-03/antechinus.png?h=547866f4&itok=jjs5Y-1h)
Wildlife ecologist Dr Jasmin Packer from the University of Adelaide’s School of Biological Sciences, has lent her voice to the long-haul recovery of the habitat devastated by the recent Adelaide Hills bushfire, which is home to endangered species and wildlife.
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Don’t focus on genetic diversity to save our species
![rock wallaby image](/newsroom/sites/default/files/styles/ua_landscape/public/media/images/2021-02/rock-wallaby-872803-image-by-philip-barrington-from-pixabay.jpg?h=7315fc86&itok=ANnu9JSv)
Scientists at the University of Adelaide have challenged the common assumption that genetic diversity of a species is a key indicator of extinction risk.
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