The totally unexpected news from exhaustive research into the facial cancer that has threatened Tasmanian Devils since it was diagnosed more than 20 years ago is surprising. It seems that the animals themselves are evolving to overcome what was assumed would create extinction of these important little top predators. As they have succumbed to the disease the feral and pest species have overpopulated bringing more threats to many small marsupials but new research is showing a turnaround in the decline. Nature can always surprise us with its resilience.

What is so important about saving endangered species ? For me there isn't a single reason not to save the beautiful wildlife of our world. The animals are part of our world and we have a responsibility to make sure they survive as we impact more and more on natural environments that wildlife depends on for their very survival. Not to do everything we can to make sure that endangered species do not become extinct is reckless and unforgivable and I believe threatens our own survival eventually.

Nature is an amazing thing. I have often wondered about why zebras have such a distinctive coat pattern given that they are a major prey species. You would understandably think that with great big wide stripes they would be seen and targeted for miles by big cat predators such as lions. It seems that nature has created a dazzling pattern designed to confuse the lion who in fact has poor colour vision so when the herd band together it creates a moving pattern making it difficult for him to focus on single individuals. Even the young zebra have been designed for survival. From a very young age they have long legs like adults to carry them at the same height so lions can't detect a smaller animal and target them. Truly astonishing isn't it.