An orange orangutan swinging on a branch in thick jungle

University of Queensland research has found despite considerable conservation efforts, the illegal killing of critically endangered orangutans on Borneo may be an ongoing threat to the species.

11 October 2023
Coral skeleton rubble.

Stabilising reef rubble may help corals recover faster after being damaged by the impacts of climate change and natural degradation.

2 December 2021
Woman sitting against tree with facemask on.

Public use of parks and reserves increased only slightly during last year’s COVID-19 national lockdown despite gyms and sports facilities shutting down, a University of Queensland study found.

28 May 2021
Dr Gürer with Falkor in the background © Dan Buehler.

The ‘hidden’ continent of Zealandia is being partially mapped, thanks to a deepwater mapping expedition led by The University of Queensland in collaboration with Schmidt Ocean Institute.

24 March 2021
Image above: ‘Meidum Geese’, Chapel of Itet, mastaba of Nefermaat and Itet (Dynasty 4), Meidum, Egypt. Image: C.K. Wilkinson.

As a University of Queensland researcher examined a 4600-year-old Egyptian painting last year, a speckled goose caught his eye.

23 February 2021
Flock of sheep standing close together looking in direction of camera

More frequently sheared pregnant sheep are more active, have lower stress levels and produce lambs with finer wool, according to University of Queensland research.

3 December 2020
Woman looking through a drawer of Chinese medicine in a wall full of drawers

Demystifying traditional Chinese medicine for conservationists could be the key to better protecting endangered species like pangolins, tigers and rhino, according to University of Queensland-led researchers.

27 November 2020
Picture of cracking clay coloured soil in drought

Mega-droughts – droughts that last two decades or longer – are tipped to increase thanks to climate change, according to University of Queensland-led research.

30 October 2020

A failure by governments to deliver on commitments under a global nature conservation treaty, the Convention on Biological Diversity, could have devastating effects.

8 October 2020
Neon jellyfish in aquarium

Jellyfish could replace fish and chips on a new sustainable takeaway menu to help keep threatened species off the plate.

22 September 2020
A research assistant at the ENGO Corales de Paz (Mariana Gnecco) is cleaning the rope coral nursery with a sophisticated cleaning tool, at San Andres, an island in the Colombian Caribbean. Photo: Corales de Paz.

The most successful and cost-effective ways to restore coral reefs have been identified by an international group of scientists, after analysing restoration projects in Latin America.

12 August 2020

Brisbanites love their Queenslander-style homes, valuing them for their history, aesthetic pleasure and climatic comfort, according to University of Queensland research.

30 July 2020
Professor Catherine Lovelock studies 'blue carbon' in soils and coastal wetlands

Two University of Queensland environmental scientists have been named 2020 Australian Laureate Fellows.

9 July 2020
bird with white body and grey feathers standing in sand

As the world looks to tighten up the illegal capture of wildlife, migratory birds are being threatened by widespread and unsustainable hunting across the Asia-Pacific region.

21 May 2020

Logging of native forests increases the risk and severity of fire and likely had a profound effect on the recent, catastrophic Australian bushfires, according to new research.

6 May 2020
An Australian sea lion raises its head to the sky

Populations of Australia’s threatened mammals have declined by 38 per cent on average in 20 years, yet research shows conservation efforts have led to significant recoveries.

23 April 2020

Conservation researchers have debated two different approaches to protecting biodiversity for years, but an international team of scientists has found a combination could achieve the best results.

22 April 2020
Sharks swimming together in the ocean with a blue sky above

It’s not too late to rescue global marine life, according to a study outlining the steps needed for marine ecosystems to recover from damage by 2050.

2 April 2020
Target-based ecological compensation resolves much of this uncertainty by explicitly linking compensatory requirements to biodiversity targets.

A new approach to compensate for the impact of development may be an effective alternative to biodiversity offsetting – and help nations achieve international biodiversity targets.

12 February 2020
A Caribbean reef shark is surrounded by smaller fish. Credit: Global FinPrint project.

‘No-take’ marine reserves - where fishing is banned - can reverse the decline in the world’s coral reef shark populations caused by overfishing, according to an Australian study.

24 January 2020