Veronika Wild

Hello from the Zebras at Zoodoo - baby in the brown coat was born in Tasmania Let me say at the outset that I have mixed feelings about zoos. On the one hand I’m sure animals would prefer to be in the wild, following their own inclinations and schedules rather than being gawped at by humans. On the other hand, as humans take over more and more of the earth’s living space and modify the ecosystems of other species with development and climate change, zoos may be the last places where animals, especially the larger ones, can find refuge and possibly some protection from extinction.   There are already many breeding programs in zoos around the world which offer hope to species such as pandas which are no longer able to breed in the wild. They also add to our knowledge about animals which may contribute to the survival not only of those injured as a result of fire or road trauma, but even whole species such as our own Tassie Devil, when they fall victim to devastating di...

Among other things which can maim or kill, or at least cause excruciating pain, jellyfish deserve a mention too. Although they have always been around, they have been especially prolific this year.   The Gold Coast has been plagued by Blue Bottles and Fraser Island has had an invasion of Irukandji jellyfish.   The box jelly fish known as Stingers which used be seen mainly around the Northern Territory in the Wet Season from November to May, have now extended their range down the east coast as far as the Whitsundays and linger around until July. Warmer ocean temperatures are blamed for this. See the National Geographic for more including excellent pictures Blue Bottles I’ll start with the Portuguese Man-o’-War or Blue Bottle ( Physalia utriculus) which has been in the news lately because thousands have washed up on the shores around South East Queensland in recent weeks with over 3,000 people being treated for stings on one weekend.  They are easy to r...

While untrodden beaches are appealing, they may harbour hidden hazards It’s summer. It’s hot and it’s hard to resist Australia’s beautiful beaches, but a couple of words of caution are in order before you dive in. I am not telling you this to scare you, but because visitors and newcomers are overrepresented in the statistics of those who come to grief and we want everyone to have a great day and come home safely.   That includes Australians. While shark attacks grab the headlines, they pale into insignificance as a cause of death compared to drownings and some other lesser -known nasties. For this reason Surf Life Saving Clubs have been warning about rips this season. This refers to fast running currents in the water that have the potential to drag you out to sea. They are one of most common reasons why swimmers get into difficulty. Here is how to recognise them, followed by how to get out of one. The main thing is not to panic.   I learnt...