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Articles by Danielle Costley
Study highlights Exmouth Gulf’s global marine conservation value
News | A new environmental DNA study has identified areas of extraordinary marine biodiversity in WA’s Exmouth Gulf, providing valuable evidence to inform management of the proposed marine park. Researchers from The University of Western Australia, Australian Institute of Marine Science, DBCA, Minderoo Foundation and Murdoch University used environmental DNA (eDNA) to investigate marine communities across this vast gulf in the state’s North West.
Conservation’s scent detectives
News | Western Australia’s extraordinary biodiversity presents scientists and land managers with a fundamental challenge: finding threatened species and detecting the often-invisible threats that affect them. Increasingly, conservation detection dogs are providing an important scientific tool, using their highly developed sense of smell to detect biological traces that can be difficult for humans to discover.
Rare Nabarlek wallaby rediscovered in Kimberley after 50 years
News | Conservationists have confirmed the presence of the Nabarlek at two new locations in WA’s Kimberley region, providing important new clues about where this tiny and threatened wallaby is surviving and where conservation efforts may be most needed. Weighing just 1.2 kilograms and measuring around 36 centimetres long, the Nabarlek is one of Australia’s smallest wallabies. This sighting offers fresh hope for one of Australia’s most elusive threatened mammals.
New Karijini infrastructure improves access while protecting a fragile gorge environment
News | A major upgrade at one of Karijini National Park’s most popular attractions is making visiting easier, while helping manage growing pressure on the park’s fragile gorge environment. A $2.1 million program of works at Knox Gorge has been completed, delivering a new accessible pathway and raised steel boardwalk to Knox Gorge Lookout, as well as an expanded carpark, new toilets and upgraded picnic facilities.
Waterwise gardening boom helps WA suburbs adapt to a hotter, drier climate
News | A record number of waterwise plants have been planted across Western Australia over the past year, as councils and communities turn to native and climate-suited gardens to create greener, more resilient suburbs. More than 137,000 plants were co-funded across 22 local councils through the Water Corporation’s Waterwise Greening Scheme in 2025-26. This is the highest number since the program began.
WA’s remarkable orchid diversity highlighted in new publication
News | Western Australia hosts 470 orchid species of the 28,000 found globally. The importance of efforts to protect these botanical treasures was the theme of a recent presentation by esteemed neuroscientist Professor Lyn Beazley AO in launching a new reference book produced by Friends of Jirdarup Bushland. Nestled within the Jirdarup Bushland Precinct in Victoria Park, Kensington Bushland is a precious remnant of Perth’s original landscape.
Hundreds of ways to Spring into Nature
News | From the Kimberley to Esperance, the Pilbara to Perth and everywhere in between, Spring into Parks is bringing Western Australians together this month to explore, play, learn, move and connect with nature. Children, families and community members came together in Port Hedland in September to celebrate the Pilbara’s plants, animals, culture and landscapes through a collaborative artwork at Scribblers on the Road Pilbara.
Your next adventure starts here as Spring into Parks returns
News | Spring is here, and it’s the perfect excuse to get outside. From 18 September, Spring into Parks returns, inviting us all to discover the incredible adventures waiting in our own backyard. Now in its eighth year, this WA Parks Foundation initiative celebrates the many ways to experience our state’s spectacular national parks, marine parks and reserves. Think coastal walks, wildflower trails, wildlife encounters, stargazing, forest bathing and plenty of family-friendly adventures.
Science brings native bettongs back to Dirk Hartog Island
News | A tiny native marsupial is once again moving through the bush of Dirk Hartog Island (Wirruwana), more than a century after disappearing from this remote Western Australian landscape. The return of bettongs, also known as ‘rat kangaroos’, is part of the ambitious Return to 1616 Ecological Restoration Project, which is bringing lost native species back to the island and restoring an ecosystem altered by introduced predators and grazing animals.
New species of native bees discovered in Kings Park
News | Dr Kit Prendergast is passionate about discovering, understanding and protecting Western Australia’s remarkable native bee biodiversity. Across WA’s parks, bushland, gardens and urban spaces live hundreds of species of native bees. Many are tiny, solitary and easily overlooked. For Dr Prendergast, making these remarkable creatures visible is an important first step towards protecting them.
Funding available to help protect WA wildlife from bird flu
News | Up to $200,000 is available for community-led projects to strengthen Western Australia’s wildlife resilience against H5 bird flu. The Bird Flu Wildlife Resilience Grant is now open, providing an important funding opportunity for organisations working on wildlife rehabilitation, biosecurity, habitat protection and natural resource management.
A remarkable return: young Southern Right Whale finds its way home
News | After spending more than two weeks in the Peel-Harvey Estuary, a juvenile Southern Right Whale safely made its way back to the open ocean in one of Western Australia’s most heartwarming wildlife stories of the season. More than 10 metres long, the young whale entered the estuary before becoming confined by its shallow waters.
Hidden treasures of the south west: protecting WA’s peatlands
News | Tucked among the forests, heathlands and granite peaks of Western Australia’s south west are some of the state’s most remarkable ecosystems. Known as Empodisma peatlands, these ancient wetlands have quietly stored carbon, filtered water and provided a home for wildlife for thousands of years. Although they cover only small pockets of the landscape, these peatlands play an important role in protecting biodiversity and helping regulate our climate.
Decades of conservation help secure a brighter future for the numbat
News | There’s good news for one of Western Australia’s most iconic native animals. The numbat – our State’s animal emblem and Australia’s unique termite-eating marsupial – has officially been reclassified from Endangered to Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. The downlisting marks a significant conservation milestone. Just a few decades ago, fewer than 300 numbats remained in the wild.
Mimbi Caves campground expansion in the North West
News | A major expansion of the Mimbi Caves Campground in the Kimberley is opening soon, increasing capacity to 35 campsites and making it even easier for visitors to experience one of the region’s outstanding cultural and natural attractions. The upgraded campground, known by its Gooniyandi name Jarlarloo Riwi — with Jarlarloo meaning Coolamon tree and Riwi meaning camp — now features a new amenities block, camp kitchen and additional campsites.
Discover WA’s backyard: the iconic Gloucester Tree is open again
News | Looking for your next WA adventure? One of the State’s most iconic national park experiences is back. The Gloucester Tree in Gloucester National Park near Pemberton has officially reopened following major restoration works, giving Western Australians another reason to head south and explore the incredible natural experiences right here in our own backyard. Standing 61 metres tall, the heritage-listed karri giant has been welcoming adventurous climbers for generations.
149 new marine species discovered in Australia’s Indian Ocean
News | A scientific expedition has revealed at least 149 previously unknown marine species living in the deep waters surrounding Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The recently announced discoveries were made during research voyages conducted in 2021 and 2022 aboard CSIRO’s research vessel Investigator.
Midwest conservation partnership strengthens conservation outcomes
News | A new three-year conservation partnership has been launched to support biodiversity and protect threatened species in the Watheroo region, approximately 200 kilometres north of Perth. The Watheroo Region Conservation Program brings together the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and Woodside Energy to deliver coordinated, landscape-scale conservation across an area recognised for its significant flora, fauna and ecological communities.
Register your event for this year’s Spring into Parks
News | Something exciting is blooming this Spring. Spring into Parks is returning, and we’re getting ready to celebrate everything that makes our parks and green spaces so special. If you’re planning a nature walk, community gathering, workshop, family activity, or another outdoor event, now’s the time to start thinking about getting involved. Join us to help inspire more people to get outside and enjoy Western Australia’s beautiful parks and green spaces.
Boardwalk for world famous thrombolites to protect environment
News | A 145-metre timber boardwalk and 50-metre concrete connector path will be constructed at Lake Clifton, Mandurah to allow visitors to better view the thrombolites while protecting the surrounding fragile ecosystem. Located within Yalgorup National Park, the Lake Clifton thrombolites are among the oldest living life forms on Earth and are recognised as a threatened ecological community.
Decades of ocean research helps shape future of marine conservation
News | For more than 20 years, Professor Jessica Meeuwig AM from The University of Western Australia (UWA) has been leading research into Australia’s marine environments, generating critical scientific data that will help inform the Australian Government’s 2028 review of Commonwealth Marine Parks. A key tool in this work is the use of Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems (BRUVS), which enable scientists to observe marine life in its natural habitat without disturbing ecosystems.
A new way to experience WA’s first national park
News | Visitors to John Forrest National Park can now enjoy an elevated perspective of one of its outstanding natural features, with the opening of a new 250‑metre walkway above Glen Brook. Positioned among mature eucalypts and overlooking granite outcrops, the walkway provides an immersive experience of the Glen Brook valley.
Upgrades at Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks in the Great Southern
News | Visitors to two of the Great Southern’s most iconic coastal destinations will soon enjoy improved access, safety and viewing opportunities, with major upgrades set to begin at Greens Pool and Elephant Rocks in William Bay National Park. At Greens Pool, works will include a new elevated boardwalk, upgraded viewing platforms and improved beach access steps. The back-of-beach boardwalk is being built first to maintain visitor access for as long as possible.
Visitor boardwalk upgrade for Shark Bay World Heritage Area
News | The reconstruction of the Hamelin Pool boardwalk in the Shark Bay World Heritage Area is underway, marking a significant milestone in restoring access to one of WA’s most remarkable natural environments. The original boardwalk, which allowed visitors to view the globally significant stromatolites at close range, was severely damaged during Cyclone Seroja in 2021 and subsequently closed.
Djilba scores a perfect health check
News | Djilba, the first koala born at Yanchep National Park in 15 years, has received a clean bill of health following a full assessment by a veterinary team from Perth Zoo. Now 14 months old and weighing a healthy 4.5 kilograms, Djilba’s check-up included blood testing, dental and physical examinations, and the insertion of a microchip for identification.
Nannup set to bloom with 2026 Flower and Garden Festival
News | The picturesque South West town of Nannup will burst into colour this August as the Nannup Flower and Garden Festival returns from 7 – 16 August 2026. Spanning two weekends, the much-loved festival will feature more than 80 events celebrating gardening, nature and community. Visitors can explore a town transformed by more than 10,000 blooming tulips, while enjoying a diverse program designed to appeal to gardeners of all experience levels.
Walpole tourism operator recognised for Excellence in Tourism
News | Walpole tourism pioneer Gary Muir from WOW Wilderness has been honoured with the Local Tourism Legend Award at the recent WA Tourism Conference, recognising his outstanding contribution to Western Australia’s tourism industry. The award acknowledges individuals who have made an exceptional and enduring impact on tourism in their region.
Lightscape returning
News | Much loved Lightscape will return to Kings Park and Botanic Garden in 2026 with a bold new creative vision, unveiling a reimagined trail of light, sound and storytelling amid Western Australia’s extraordinary flora. Running from Friday, 5 June to Sunday, 26 July 2026, the 1.8‑kilometre illuminated trail will once again transform the Western Australian Botanic Garden into a spectacular after‑dark experience.
App to protect migrating whales
News | Western Australian boaties, commercial operators and shipping are encouraged to report migrating humpback whales and other marine animals through the State Government’s revamped Marine Fauna Sightings app. The data collected will provide fisheries researchers with a better understanding of the timing of humpback whale migration and how it may change each year.
Touring the Kimberley in the dry
News | May to October is the Kimberley’s dry season and the most popular time to visit. Covering nearly 423,000 square kilometres, this vast, ancient and culturally rich region in north west Australia has fewer people per square kilometre than almost anywhere else on earth.
Under Gascoyne Skies Festival
News | This free, two-day event from 22 to 23 May 2026 is a celebration of the rugged beauty and lifestyle of the outback in the heart of Western Australia’s Upper Gascoyne, Gascoyne Junction. Set against the stunning backdrop of the Kennedy Range and the Gascoyne and Lyons Rivers, it includes a three-act music festival, walking tours, guided stargazing sessions, cooking demonstrations and a taste of local history. It’s a chance to camp under the stars.
Celebrating and supporting National Tree Day
News | National Tree Day’s 30th anniversary will be celebrated on 26 July. An initiative of Planet Ark, this is Australia’s largest tree planting and nature care event and the aim this year, with the help of the community, is to plant one million native trees. One of 30 stories selected by Planet Ark to mark the anniversary is that of the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Urban Landcare Group. The towering trees in Boranup Forest, Margaret River, are up to 400 years old.
Three Days in the Great Southern
West Cape Howe in Mount Barker. The spectacular Great Southern is brimming with world-class wines and exceptional produce; it’s a place where sharing a glass of riesling over freshly shucked local oysters is not uncommon. The pace is slower in this epicurean paradise, and the people are as welcoming as the region is bountiful. The wines of the subregions – Porongurup, Mount Barker, Frankland River, Albany and Denmark – each have a distinct personality.
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