Wild

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), an iconic Australian marsupial, is listed as endangered in Queensland due to habitat loss, climate change, disease, and other anthropogenic pressures. As a result, protecting populations and identifying new conservation opportunities are urgent priorities. Woppa, an island off the coast of Central Queensland, has been identified as a potential site for future koala conservation. This preliminary study assessed koala food-habitat presence on Woppa by ground-truthing Queensland Government habitat maps to determine the alignment of the habitat assessment while also gathering data on dominant tree compositions in each selected area. Transect surveys (10 m × 50 m) were used to compare mapped expected vegetation with actual tree species composition. Woppaburra Traditional Owner perspectives were incorporated through an analysis of an interview with Woppaburra Traditional Owner and authorised Woppaburra representative, Juku-Dai Nerark Morris. Vegetation alignment varied across land zones, with some high-ranked habitats recording <75% alignment, while others exceeded 90%. Preferred koala food trees occurred in both high- and low-ranked areas. The interviewed Woppaburra Traditional Owner described historical accounts of koalas on Woppa and expressed in-principle support for conservation translocation as part of Caring for Country. This research highlights both opportunities and challenges for koala conservation on Woppa, providing baseline data to inform First Nations-led management and future translocation feasibility.

Wildlife tourism can harm both the species in question and the local communities if not properly implemented. Nevertheless, a comprehensive and effective approach to evaluate the potential of community-based ecotourism (CBET), especially wildlife ecotourism, is lacking. We aimed to assess the potential of utilizing the endemic Philippine colugo (Cynocephalus volans) as a focal species for CBET in Bilar and Anda, Bohol and Ormoc City, Leyte, by understanding the perspectives of tourists, residents, and the local government units (LGU). To gather their perspectives, we conducted mixed-method interviews and online surveys from January to May 2026. Despite low familiarity with the species, potential tourists showed high interest in seeing colugos in their natural habitats, with most of them confirming to participate in the CBET in the next five years. Residents showed high interest in the CBET for economic and conservation purposes, while LGUs varied in their views on the use of the species for tourism, assessment of local community capacity, and the support they can provide. Anda had the highest CBET potential based on local community capacity, LGU support, and tourist preference. We determined the CBET operational model, features of the offer, and optimal pricing points. The proposed CBET initiative has the potential to enhance public awareness, stimulate research efforts, and promote monitoring of the species, which may positively contribute to the conservation of the Philippine colugo.

Animal material culture is most often discussed in relation to tool use and foraging, while non-foraging object use remains poorly documented in many taxa. This study reports opportunistic observations of a novel object-directed behavior in the critically endangered pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus), an island-endemic species restricted to Cozumel, Mexico. During fieldwork on tourism effects between January and February 2026, researchers used direct observation, site assessment, photography, videography, and interviews to document raccoon behavior at several sites. At one beach club, two juvenile female siblings were observed retrieving paper waste, dipping it in water, rolling and compacting it with sand, and using the resulting balls in play. One juvenile first performed the full sequence while the other observed and then attempted the behavior; the second juvenile later completed the sequence independently after her sister had been removed from the site. However, at a comparable tourism site with juvenile raccoons and access to paper and water, this behavior was not observed. These observations provide potential evidence of socially mediated material engagement in pygmy raccoons. The findings expand the known behavioral repertoire of the species and support continued field-based behavioral monitoring, especially where tourism, waste exposure, and juvenile development overlap.