All articles tagged with #tasmania
King’s holly, a shrub in southwest Tasmania, is among Earth’s oldest clonal organisms, with fossil evidence dating back 43,600 years. Despite producing flowers, it is sterile due to triploid chromosomes and reproduces only through cloning. Its survival is precarious, with populations confined to small areas and threatened by fire and pathogens, though a new colony was recently discovered.
A Global Challenges study ranks the best and worst places to endure a doomsday event, favoring remote, resource-rich regions with competent governance. Australia, especially Tasmania, is touted as the most resilient due to remoteness, minerals, and strong food production, while Russia and parts of Britain are flagged for vulnerabilities. The analysis notes that urban areas may become “death traps” and that even the top picks have limits, ending with the blunt warning that there is “no place to hide” in a global catastrophe.
A Tasmanian coroner ruled that 31-year-old Belgian tourist Celine Cremer died in an accident after straying from a poorly marked track near Philosopher Falls during a June 2023 hike. Cremer’s remains were found near the Arthur River in January 2026 and identified soon after; the coroner determined she died between June 17–21, 2023, from a confluence of factors including hypothermia, possible trauma, or drowning, with no evidence of foul play. The breakthrough came after her cellphone was found in late 2025, aiding the renewed search that led to the discovery. Her family expressed relief at the finding.
Neil the southern elephant seal, about 1,000 kg, hauls out on Tasmanian beaches twice a year, attracting crowds and a viral following; he can dive to 2,000 metres and stay underwater for hours, but as he grows toward a possible 3,500 kg, authorities emphasize a 20-metre safety buffer, keeping sea access open, and reporting misbehavior while welfare plans for large predators are developed (with euthanasia a remote possibility if he harms someone).
Neil, a massive southern elephant seal, returned to Tasmania and has become a local celebrity while causing traffic disruptions and surprising residents. Officials warn that his viral fame could threaten safety as he grows larger. Euthanasia is not planned; instead there is 24/7 security and discussion of restricted-access zones to protect both the seal and the public, with scientists noting he may spend the rest of his life in Tasmania rather than returning to Macquarie Island to breed.
Neil the southern elephant seal’s Tasmanian visits drew crowds and a security detail, turning him from a local sighting into a global folk hero as memes and media celebrate his free-roaming, uncontained nature. The piece explores why wild encounters captivate us, comparing him to celebrity wildlife and considering broader themes of freedom and rebellion in popular culture, while noting experts’ cautions about over-interpreting his behaviour amid his possible departure from Tasmania.
A famous southern elephant seal nicknamed Neil returns to Tasmania and disrupts a local petrol station, leaning on a ute, blocking traffic and drawing crowds; wildlife officials say his play‑fighting behavior stems from isolation and warn the public to stay away to keep him safe.
Neil, a 2,200-pound male elephant seal returning to Tasmania, has disrupted towns with road-blocking and property damage while amassing a large TikTok following; officials urge fans to give him privacy to prevent dangerous human–seal encounters, noting his behavior is typical juvenile seal practice and emphasizing coexistence, with removal considered if safety is threatened.
A five-year-old elephant seal weighing about 1,000 kg has returned to southern Tasmania, repeatedly bypassing barriers, smashing fences, and lounging on roads, becoming a local celebrity. Experts say his behavior is normal for seals during haul-outs, and he’s likely to grow larger (adult males can exceed two tonnes). Wildlife officials advise keeping at least 20 meters away and dogs 50 meters away. Neil is expected to linger for about six weeks, amid broader conservation concerns as southern elephant seals are now classified as vulnerable after bird flu devastated several colonies.
Neil, a five-and-a-half-year-old southern elephant seal in Hobart, Tasmania, now weighs about 1,000 kg and has become a viral sensation with millions following his antics. While shedding, he rubs against surfaces and frequently rests on or knocks over traffic cones placed around him, prompting safety measures. Officials say the behavior is natural during shedding and use non-harmful methods to move him away from hazards, urging onlookers to keep roughly 20 meters away. As he grows bigger, researchers warn he could become more aggressive or territorial, making close observation essential as next year’s growth continues.
A 2025 UNSW-led Frontiers in Marine Science study analyzed neonate humpback calves across Australia and New Zealand, finding newborns well south of the previously accepted calving limit—up to 43°S in Tasmania—extending the observed calving area by about 1,500 km and showing some mothers birth during migration and continue north with their calves. This challenges the tidy model of migration with a fixed birth zone, has conservation implications due to exposure to ships and fishing along the extended route, and calls for further research on how often mid‑migration births occur and calf survival compared with births in traditional warmer grounds.
The Beaker Street Science Photography Prize 2026 has announced 16 finalists spanning endangered species, deep-sea life, dark-sky preservation and other natural phenomena. Highlights include Brett Guy’s The Holy Grail (bioluminescent algae, a subtle aurora, and the Milky Way) and Armando Ochoa Aguilar’s First Day (red handfish hatchlings). The lineup also features images exploring Tasmanian geology, wildlife conservation efforts, and atmospheric/oceanic forces. Public voting is open online, with top images to be shown at the Beaker Street Festival’s August exhibition (Aug 6–17, 2026) and winners announced during the event.
Australian nonprofit Rouser Lab is building Earth’s Black Box, a 52-foot monolith designed to continuously log data on planetary health from space agencies, weather services, and universities and store it as Earth’s Vital Index. Planned for installation at a remote Tasmanian airfield by December, the device aims to provide an objective real-time archive of events leading to environmental collapse to spur accountability and action, though critics note the abundance of open climate data and question its practical usefulness. The project also includes the Climate S.O.S. techno-obelisk concept that would transmit a distress call into space in hopes of attracting help from alien civilizations.
A real possum wandered into the Hobart Airport gift shop in Tasmania, hid among a display of soft toys, then wandered into the departure lounge before staff safely escorted it outside; the animal appeared undistressed and was released back outdoors.
Police say remains found in a Tasmanian rainforest are provisionally identified as 31-year-old Belgian backpacker Celine Cremer, who disappeared in 2023 after a hike near Philosopher's Falls in Waratah. A private search by volunteers uncovered bones, a mobile phone and clothing, prompting renewed police efforts. With the family's permission and expert reports, authorities say there is compelling evidence the remains belong to Cremer, though the coroner will officially confirm the identity.