Wildwood Park Sanctuary Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation.

09/05/2026

The Fossa Is Madagascar's Apex Predator. It Looks Like a Cat, Moves Like a Weasel, Climbs Like a Monkey, and Is Most Closely Related to a Mongoose. Science Had No Idea What to Call It.

Early European naturalists who encountered the Fossa - Cryptoprocta ferox - spent decades arguing about what kind of animal it was. It is cat-like. It is not a cat. It moves with weasel-like body flexibility. It is not a weasel. It descends trees headfirst using a reversible ankle joint shared with very few mammals. Its closest relative is the mongoose. It is the largest carnivore endemic to Madagascar.

It is a Eupleridae - a family unique to Madagascar, all descended from a single mongoose-like ancestor that colonised the island approximately 18–24 million years ago. That single ancestor diversified, in complete isolation, into every carnivore niche on the island. The Fossa filled the apex predator role.

It hunts lemurs almost exclusively - leaping through the canopy at speed, using retractable claws and extreme flexibility to follow prey through three-dimensional forest. It is the primary reason Sifaka lemurs perform their distinctive sideways alarm jump and maintain constant vigilance.

Fossas are crepuscular - active at dawn and dusk. They are rarely seen. Critically endangered: the forest they require is 90% gone.

The apex predator of an island that is 90% deforested, that looks like four animals at once, that science couldn't classify for 200 years - is disappearing without most people knowing it exists.

What happens to an ecosystem when the apex predator disappears - and what does the Fossa's story tell us about how little we know about Madagascar?

09/05/2026

09/05/2026

Sir David Attenborough turns 100 today 🎉 On behalf of Landcare Australia and thousands of landcarers, happy 100th birthday Sir David! Thank you for inspiring millions of people (including us) to care for the Earth. 🌱

“The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It provides our food, water, and air. It is the most precious thing we have - and we need to defend it.” – Sir David Attenborough

Across Australia, the landcare movement are out planting native trees, restoring habitats for threatened species, protecting soils and productive landscapes, improving biodiversity, and caring for waterways and coastlines. Landcare volunteers are caring for the places we all depend on - the kind of vital hands-on action Sir David has inspired for generations.

Here’s to continuing his legacy – one tree, one habitat, and one community at a time. 🌏

📷 Sir David Attenborough sitting on a rock in front of the Great Barrier Reef in 2018.

Image credit: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

09/05/2026

Happy 100th Birthday ! 🎂

We thank you for your resilience in educating and inspiring others to take action and fight for our nature and wildlife 💚

📸 Alex Board/Silverback Films

06/05/2026

Murray cod numbers have bounced back across much of Victoria and NSW, and that's good news for the whole Murray-Darling Basin ecosystem.

More: https://ab.co/4eVTojc

06/05/2026

Skippy the Bush Kangaroo (1968) remains one of Australia’s most iconic television productions and a cherished part of the nation’s entertainment history. Created during a golden era of family adventure programs, the series followed the remarkable adventures of Skippy, an intelligent bush kangaroo, and her young companion Sonny Hammond, a spirited 10-year-old boy living in the fictional Waratah National Park. Together, they encountered smugglers, poachers, lost travellers and natural dangers, with Skippy frequently saving the day through her courage, loyalty and surprising cleverness. The series combined exciting storytelling with beautiful Australian landscapes, introducing international audiences to the country’s unique wildlife and rugged bush environment. Its memorable theme music and wholesome family appeal quickly made the program a household favourite.

The show starred Garry Pankhurst as Sonny Hammond, alongside Ed Devereaux as his father, Matt Hammond, the head ranger of the national park. Skippy herself was portrayed by several specially trained kangaroos, whose performances fascinated viewers around the world. What made the series particularly distinctive was the emotional bond between Sonny and Skippy, which reflected themes of friendship, compassion and respect for nature. Unlike many adventure programs of the time, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo highlighted environmental awareness and wildlife protection, helping audiences develop a stronger appreciation for Australia’s natural heritage.

Produced in colour at a time when many television programs were still filmed in black and white, the series was designed for international success from the beginning. It achieved extraordinary popularity, airing in more than 128 countries and attracting millions of viewers every week. In Britain, Europe, Asia and North America, Skippy became an enduring symbol of Australia, much like kangaroos themselves. The program’s worldwide success also led to films, merchandise and later revivals, cementing its cultural impact for generations.

Even decades after its original broadcast, Skippy the Bush Kangaroo continues to be remembered fondly for its warmth, adventure and unmistakably Australian spirit.

06/05/2026

29/04/2026

Have you all noticed that not that I am from NZ but I love Kakapos they are the most adorable parrots and I once was allowed to hold one. This filled my heart ♥️ and brought tears to my eyes as they are so rare and endangered. Have you any pics of a Kakapo ? If you do please share.