Free Republic

Australians are doing their best to save local animals from overwhelming brushfires by any means possible — including packing them into their cars. A viral video documents two teen cousins’ efforts to save area wildlife by packing six koalas into their vehicle. “Rescuing Koalas affected by fires on Kangaroo Island with my cousin,” reads the video’s caption. “Little fellas looking a little exhausted.” The clip pans to the back of the car, where a mom and her child are cuddling. “She’s a mother with a baby,” says one of the two young heroes, who are identified by LADbible as Micah,...

THE Roads and Traffic Authority has proudly announced the success of a road safety program - for our State's native wildlife. To reduce the number of animals killed on NSW roads each year, the RTA has installed more than 200 animal crossings on NSW highways. Rather than wait for a break in the constant flow of traffic, native animals are using specifically built tunnels and bridges to cross roads. And some of Australia's favourite native creatures have been smiling for the cameras as they scurry by. A little possum was snapped crossing over a rope bridge that hangs above the...

A government scientist has warned that climate change, and specifically the rising levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, is pushing up toxins and lowering nutrients in eucalyptus leaves. Dr Dan Lunney, of the New South Wales Department of Environment and Climate Change, said the trend would force koalas out of trees and on to the ground to search for food, putting them in danger. "What currently may be good koala habitats will become very marginal habitats," he said. "This means koalas have to change trees more often to get to the leaves they need. "As koalas change trees they...

IT is time for tough-minded tolerance. As a nation of immigrants, Australians easily accept neighbours with different attitudes to matters of morals and their own ways of worship. It is the Australian way to accommodate new cultures. It is the Australian way to take people for who they are, not what they wear, or where they come from. But it is also the Australian way to abhor those who demand to live their lives as they wish and to practise their religion as they choose, but reject the right of everybody else to do the same. This is what a...