A panel of our top researchers comes together for National Threatened Species Day.
Presenter(s):
- Dr Andy Flies on Tasmanian Devils
- Dr Georgina Andersen on Tasmanian Devils
- Dr James Pay on Wedge-Tailed Eagles
- Dr Jemina Stuart-Smith on the Red Handfish
- Hosted by Emily Flies, Science in the Pub
National Threatened Species Day commemorates the death of the last known thylacine, or Tasmanian tiger, in 1936. It is believed the tiger died from the cold after being locked out of its sleeping quarters at Hobart Zoo. Neglect may have been responsible for the demise of the last individual but the species had already received its death sentence, despite being common in Tasmania before European settlement in 1803. Thylacines are believed to have been driven to extinction predominantly by hunting, with habitat destruction and disease also likely to have played a role. Since 1936, other species have followed the Tassie tiger down the extinction path. National Threatened Species Day encourages us to reflect on this, and think about how to protect our unique Australian fauna and flora into the future.
About the Panel
- Andy Flies' focus is developing a vaccine to protect Tasmanian devils from the devil facial tumour disease.
- Georgina Andersen captured the secret life of Tasmanian devils in a remarkable video experiment.
- James Pay tracks Tasmania's wedge-tailed eagles via text message.
- Jemina Stuart-Smith is working to save the last population of the world's rarest fish, the red handfish.
Hosted by Emily Flies who, with partner (and panelist) Andy, founded Science in the Pub and was Tasmania's STEM Communicator of the Year in 2017.
