Numbers Surge

Conservationists say population rebound demands rethink of retention zones that allow thousands of the animals to remain in the parkGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFeral horse numbers in the Kosciuszko national park have surged, with new survey data estimating populations climbed by thousands after the New South Wales government paused aerial culling in 2025.Conservation advocates say the rebound in numbers demands an urgent rethink of retention zones that allow thousands of horses to remain in the park. Continue reading...

CSIRO researcher says there are reports of up to 4,000 mouse burrows per hectare in parts of Western AustraliaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastGrain growers are on high alert as mouse numbers in Western Australia reach plague proportions and numbers surge in South Australia.Steve Henry, who researches mice and their impact on the grain industry at CSIRO, says more than 800 mice per hectare is considered a plague. Continue reading...

• The UK and France announced a joint initiative on April 7 to address Mediterranean migration flows, with both countries deploying increased naval assets and proposing new burden-sharing mechanisms among EU member states. • Record numbers of migrants attempted Channel crossings in March; both nations acknowledged root causes including conflict in Syria, instability in Afghanistan, and economic desperation in North Africa. • The agreement includes expanded search-and-rescue coordination, joint processing centers, and humanitarian support; however, European capitals remain divided over permanent asylum burden-sharing frameworks.