Western Australia by nature

Western Australia is home to six out of the seven species of marine turtles in the world. Our shores become safe havens for them to nest and lay their eggs, including along the stunning Kimberley Coast and Ningaloo Reef.  Turtle conservation is most definitely a team effort, with international partnerships, academics, scientists and passionate volunteers all playing a part in increasing our understanding of these amazing reptiles, tracking their movements and assessing the threats that face them. We speak with, Scott Whiting, a Principal Research Scientist with the Marine Science Program at the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions about the work being done to protect these species and the important role Traditional Owners play.

The ‘save the bees’ movement has gained remarkable traction lately, encouraging people to think beyond the European honey bee. We talk with Dr Kit Prendergast about Australia’s 1700 species of native bees and how we can help expand bee-friendly gardens to include ground-nesting species.

Feral cats top the list of the most destructive species in Australia, costing the economy a huge $18.5 billion over the last 60 years in damage and population control measures. Today we speak with the Program Leader for Western Australia’s Invasive Animals Program, Corrin Everitt, about new technology and community-based action, backed by a nation first strategy, that are helping control feral cats to protect our precious wildlife and biodiversity.

Innovative scientists are recording sounds of Western Australia’s forests in the south-west to uncover clues about what types of species occur there and how the environment changes throughout the day. Guest host Alan Gill chats with scientist Lauren Hawkins about how her work is helping detect creatures that might otherwise hard to see.  

Dibblers are energetic bundles of grey fur that have been a favourite of Perth Zoo staff in the science team involved in breeding the small marsupials for release to the wild. The breed-for-release program has been such a success it has now closed. Harriet Mills from Perth Zoo talks about her beloved dibblers and other breed for release programs around Western Australia

Cane toads crossed the border into Western Australia in 2009. They  are toxic at every stage of their life - from eggs to tadpoles to toads - and they have been linked to the decline of several native predator species. We speak with Clare Forward, WA’s Cane Toad Strategy Program Coordinator responsible for planning and delivering actions in the cane toad strategy to make sure Western Australia is doing everything it can to tackle this toad problem. 

Andrew Paul’s passionate and excitement to explore, share and protect the beauty of Western Australia with the Mount Lawley Senior High School’s Bush Rangers cadet unit has not waned in 25 years.  

Matuwa Kurrara Kurrara is gorgeous country, and quintessentially central Australian with its red dirt, hummock grasslands and array of desert animals. Our guest  is Simon Cherriman, famed ornithologist and regular visitor to Matuwa. He has been working with the Wiluna Martu Rangers and school for several years along with other scientists.

The Swan Canning Riverpark in the Perth region but the river is facing a variety of stressors from contaminants, including plastic pollution. We talk with Zoe Beeson and Peter Novak about single-plastics and what we can do to help. 

Western Australia's long-distance trails are beloved by locals and visitors. It takes an army of volunteers to maintain these tracks and we speak to two people from the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and the Munda Biddi Trail Foundation about just what it takes to coordinate all these volunteer efforts and keep our world-class trails in world-class shape.