Neighbours on the upper Beatrice River near Millaa Millaa are banding together to revegetate riverbanks and restore critical wildlife habitat – doubling a landmark restoration effort in one of Queensland’s most ecologically significant landscapes.

When coral scientists Dr Mary Stafford-Smith and Dr Charlie Veron bought their riverside property, they saw more than grazing land. They saw a rare opportunity to restore a stretch of upland rainforest that scientists have identified as one of the region’s most important refuges against climate change.

Now, with support from Terrain NRM, the couple and their downstream neighbour Bruce Jenkins are joining forces to restore upland rainforest on their properties and reconnect critical wildlife corridors.

Veron family: ‘We have big plans for this land”

The Veron family – Dr Stafford-Smith and Dr Veron along with daughter Eviie and son Martin – own four adjoining blocks near the headwaters of the Beatrice River, with 1.5 km of river frontage and remnant upland rainforest. Their property is in a priority wildlife corridor linking Maalan National Park to Wooroonooran National Park and it’s also considered to be an important climate refugia – a potential haven for species as climate change impacts increase.

“We have big plans for this land,” Dr Stafford-Smith. “When Terrain NRM invited a range of scientists and practitioners along for an on-site planning day last year, it enabled us to start putting a plan of action together and make connections with people who can support us, including the Mamu Traditional Owners.”

Bruce Jenkins: Cattle and conservation

Their downstream neighbour Bruce Jenkins, a semi-retired pub owner from the Northern Territory, was also at the planning day. Mr Jenkins bought his 120-acre grazing property seven years ago and has been quietly transforming it ever since – fencing off the river and springs to exclude cattle, establishing a rainforest nursery and planting thousands of native trees beside the Beatrice River.

“I just love trees and the environment,” he said. “I want to leave this place better than I found it.”

Both properties are now being supported through Terrain NRM’s Forest Resilience project, which includes revegetation, weed control, conservation agreements and wildlife-friendly fencing along the river to exclude cattle.

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) pose a serious threat to the delicate ecosystems and agricultural landscapes of the Wet Tropics.

Highly invasive and destructive, these animals uproot native vegetation, spread weeds, prey on wildlife, and damage crops—causing both environmental degradation and economic loss.

WHAT ARE FERAL PIGS?

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) are highly destructive, invasive animals found across the Wet Tropics. They damage ecosystems by uprooting vegetation, spreading weeds, and preying on native wildlife. Their presence also threatens agriculture, causing crop losses and soil erosion.

WHY ARE THEY A THREAT?

• Environmental damage: Pigs disturb soil, degrade waterways, and destroy native habitats.
• Agricultural losses: They eat crops, damage fencing, and compete with livestock for food.
• Disease transmission: Pigs can spread diseases like leptospirosis and foot-and-mouth disease.
• Increased weed spread: Their movement spreads invasive plant seeds, worsening weed infestations.

HOW TO CONTROL THEM ON YOUR PROPERTY

The Cassowary Coast pig trapping guide provides a comprehensive overview of what is involved in a successful trapping program, but the key elements are:

• Installing smart traps: Set up remote-controlled enclosures in high-activity areas.
• Using pre-baiting: Encourage pigs to enter traps by providing food sources.
• Monitoring remotely: Use cameras and sensors to track pig activity before triggering the trap.
• Following ethical guidelines: Ensure humane handling and disposal of captured pigs.

WHAT ARE THEY?

High biomass grasses, like Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus), Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus), grader grass (Themeda quadrivalvis), thatch grass (Hyparrhenia rufa) and giant rats tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis and Sporobolus natalensis), are introduced grass species that grow rapidly and produce large amounts of vegetation.

These grasses were often introduced accidentally or as pasture grasses for grazing but have become invasive after escaping from cultivation.

WHY ARE THEY A PROBLEM?

High biomass grasses outcompete native vegetation, reduce biodiversity, and alter fire regimes. Their high biomass creates huge fuel loads which generate intense fires that can destroy ecosystems, threaten wildlife, and damage property.

They also invade agricultural lands, reducing productivity and significantly increasing management costs. Many species are not palatable to stock so they can have a two way impact on pastures.

HOW TO SPOT THEM

Look for tall, dense grasses with distinctive seed heads and rapid growth. High biomass grasses can dominate disturbed areas, roadsides, and pastures. They may initially turn up in places where materials like soil have been imported from other areas, or where seed has fallen off vehicles, machinery, raw materials or animals.

Early detection is the key to prevent more seed being added to the system.

CHARACTERISTICS 

Gamba Grass 
A large perennial grass which grows up to 4m tall, forms dense tussocks, and has broad leaves with a white midrib.

Guinea Grass 
A large tufting perennial grass which reaches 3m in height, with long, narrow leaves and pyramid-shaped seed heads.

Grader Grass

An annual tufted grass up to 2m tall, with distinctive reddish-brown stems and fan shaped seed heads.

Thatch Grass 
A perennial grass up to 3m tall, with smooth leaves and tangled, thatchlike tufts and long stems with distinctive dark bands.

Rats Tail Grasses 
Rats tail grasses such as giant rats tail grass have distinctive cylindrical seed heads and tough, rasp like leaves which make them unpalatable to stock and other grazing animals.

A tiny frog with a big problem has sparked a mountain-top rescue mission in Far North Queensland.

Conservationists are working in dense rainforest near the summit of Mt Lewis, north of Cairns, to save the critically endangered mountain-top nursery-frog which is facing two challenges – feral pigs and a changing climate.

The frog is roughly the size of a thumbnail and it lays eggs under leaf litter. It is only found in high-altitude cloud forests in Mt Lewis National Park near Julatten.

Feral pigs a major threat

Terrain NRM’s Dr Andrew Dennis says feral pig numbers appear to be increasing above 1,100 metres, based on the amount of disturbance being seen.

“Over time they’ve slowly migrated upwards from the low altitude areas of the mountain,’’ he said.

“In mountain-top nursery frog breeding sites up near the top of Mt Lewis, pigs are now digging up the ground and leaving bare soil where there was leaf litter and tree seedlings, and we’ve observed them digging in the roots of the Linospadix apetiolatus palms.

“These tiny frogs breed in leaf litter. The males call from the palms, to project their voices to females. Eggs are laid in the leaf litter on the palm leaves or the ground. Where it’s deep, it also holds a lot of food for them. But with pig disturbances, they are losing both breeding and feeding zones.”

Installing pig-exclosure fencing

One of the answers is pig exclosure fencing. Terrain NRM has been working with Western Yalanji Traditional Owners and Gulf Savannah NRM to erect fences around 10 breeding sites in dense cloud forest near the top of the mountain. Now they’re also working with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and James Cook University researchers, using frog-call monitors and regular habitat assessments to monitor these sites and rare frogs.

“Breeding season is generally from October-November to March,’’ Dr Dennis said.

“We have 10 fenced sites that exclude pigs and 10 control plots that aren’t fenced and they’re all about 60 metres apart so that calls from frogs at one plot shouldn’t be heard at another.

Audio recorders for population monitoring

“We have audio recorders at each site to monitor calling activity and we’re also regularly monitoring the habitat, measuring things like seedling and leaf litter density and any recovery of the Linospadix apetiolatus palms.

“Pigs are churning up significant areas of this fragile habitat. We are measuring this as part of the project. On a wider scale, they’re also a weed and water quality threat to a highly biodiverse area of the Wet Tropics at the headwaters of the Mitchell and Mossman River systems.”

Climate change a threat to frogs high up on Mt Lewis

At least five frog species have disappeared from the top of Mt Lewis in the past few decades, with three of them likely extinct worldwide. Dr Dennis said a fungal disease had been the main cause of their demise, but climate changes pose another threat to species at the high altitudes of ranges like Mt Lewis.

“I’ve been visiting this region for well over 50 years. Walking in the cloud forest and around the creeks, it used to be noisy with frog calls day and night. Now it’s noticeably a lot quieter.”

Frog’s trill tells a sad story

The mountain-top nursery frog’s trill is also diminishing.

“Calls were detected by researchers in 2003 at 1,100 metres. But 20 years later, in 2023, there were no calls at 1,100 metres. They were detected at 1,200 metres and above.

Beachside forests are feeling the love, with a blitz on invasive weeds and escaped garden plants and fruit trees at Mission Beach, Kurrimine Beach and Ingham’s Forrest Beach.

Littoral rainforest is critically endangered on the east coast of Australia and work is underway to better protect what is left in the Wet Tropics region.

Work crews target Forrest Beach

Work crews from Hinchinbrook Shire Council have been removing weeds including lantana, prickly pear and guinea grass from the largest patch of littoral rainforest in their region – an 80- hectare strip of council reserve between the ocean and wetlands just north of homes at Forrest Beach.

They are also removing garden plants, and cashew trees believed to have spread from an agricultural trial in the area back in the 1960s.

Removing cashew trees 

Biosecurity and Public Spaces Portfolio Councillor Kate Milton said cashew trees had been taking over some areas of forest.

“First our council crews spent time walking through the forest area mapping weed sites, then they treated areas,’’ Cr Milton said.

“There is a lot less now but seed banks are a problem. Our crews are doing follow-up work at the moment and that’s something we’ll keep doing once a year.”

Hinchinbrook Shire Council received funding from not-for-profit organisation Terrain NRM through a project centred on the Wet Tropics region’s littoral rainforest, lowland rainforest, Mabi forest and broad leaf tea-tree woodland – all of them threatened ecological communities. The project is also helping threatened species in wet sclerophyll forest and upland rainforest.

Preserving an endangered forest type

Terrain NRM’s Tony O’Malley said Forrest Beach’s littoral rainforest was in good condition considering its closeness to developed areas.

“The Forrest Beach community and Council are to be congratulated for preserving this outstanding patch of beachfront rainforest with its at least a century-old white apple trees.

“The best investment is keeping these kind of forests in the best possible condition so they are more resilient to threats like erosion, pest species and fire,’’ he said. “As well as its ecological value, including being home to wildlife, this reserve is an erosion buffer and a scenic area for the Forrest Beach community.”

In the Wet Tropics, cats pose a serious threat to native wildlife and ecosystems. Whether owned or unowned, their predatory instincts and rapid reproduction can lead to devastating impacts on birds, reptiles, and small mammals.

WHAT IS CAT MANAGEMENT?

Cat management involves strategies and actions to contain owned cats and manage unowned cats-to protect native wildlife and ecosystems. Cats are particularly problematic in tropical regions due to their predatory behaviour on unique and endemic wildlife.

WHY ARE THEY A PROBLEM?

Cats are responsible for significant declines in native species through predation and competition, including birds, reptiles, and mammals. They are listed as a key threatening process under Australian legislation. Cats also spread diseases like toxoplasmosis, which can affect wildlife, livestock, and humans. They occur in every part of mainland Australia as well as on many islands.

CHARACTERISTICS 

Cats are highly adaptable predators found across almost all habitats, including rainforests, savannahs, deserts and urban areas. Outside domestic situations where they are required to be contained, they are solitary and nocturnal, with a diet consisting mainly of small animals including birds, mammals, reptiles and frogs.

HOW TO SPOT THEM ON YOUR PROPERTY 

Feral cats are most likely to be spotted near water sources or hiding in dense vegetation. More frequently, you will only see tracks, scats containing hair and evidence of predation, such as feathers or carcasses.

WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

• Responsible cat ownership: Practicing responsible pet ownership and containment of domestic cats is essential to reducing impacts on local wildlife. Cat runs are great ways to keep cats safe and prevent them from preying on local wildlife.
• Desexing: Cats can produce up to three litters of kittens each year which can in turn reproduce at an age of four to five months. Two entire cats can result in thousands of offspring from multiple generations within four years.
• Exclusion fencing: Installing cat-proof fencing to protect sensitive areas or wildlife populations is effective but can be prohibitively expensive. It is usually used when a prey species is threatened with extinction due to predation.
• Trapping: Cage traps can be effective in urban and peri urban areas where cats are familiar with human food sources. Rubber jawed traps can sometimes be useful for unowned cats not familiar with people but they require a lot of skill to deploy.
• Baiting: There is a growing toolkit of field-based control options for managing cats in natural settings, although some are not effective for the Wet Tropics. Strict conditions apply on their use.
• Shooting: Shooting at night can be effective for reducing local cat numbers, using a spotlight to detect cats’ distinctive green eyeshine. Cats are sometimes attracted to prey-based whistles that mimic distress calls of small mammals like rabbits.
• Habitat management: Reducing shelter and food sources in urban and peri-urban areas can limit cat populations. Managing prey items like rabbits can reduce food sources for feral predators.

In the Wet Tropics, littoral rainforest grows where the rainforest meets the reef, forming a narrow band along the coast where land and sea processes collide.

It is one of the most picturesque forest or vegetation types, yet is listed as critically endangered under national environmental law.

Although it covers only a small area, littoral rainforest plays an outsized role in protecting coastlines, supporting biodiversity and connecting people to place.

The Wet Tropics contains the most extensive, best-developed and well-connected littoral rainforest in Australia.

Notable local examples can be seen at Cape Tribulation in the Daintree, Kurrimine Beach, Mission Beach and Forrest Beach, as well as on nearby islands.

Littoral rainforest provides habitat for more than 70 threatened plants and animals and is particularly important for migratory butterflies and birds, including pied imperial pigeons.

This ecological community is under pressure from coastal development, storm-tide erosion and sea-level rise, with weeds, including garden escapees, posing an additional threat.

Through its Forest Resilience Project, Terrain NRM brought experts together to identify the most important, vulnerable and restorable areas of littoral rainforest. Partners are now working collaboratively to manage pests, weeds and access, and to raise awareness of this unique ecological community.

If the trees are rocking, don’t come knocking — it’s bat breeding season for Spectacled Flying-foxes!

If you live near a roost, you’ve probably noticed things have been a little noisier since September. That’s because our furry night gardeners have been busy giving birth and raising their pups.

Now, things are about to get spicier — and smellier — as the males start throwing around pheromones and showing off for the ladies during the breeding season.

The good news? Their mating season only lasts a few weeks. By Easter, most females will be pregnant again, and the colonies will disperse into smaller groups until next season.

Timing and Seasonality

• Spectacled Flying-foxes are monoestrous — meaning they only have one breeding season each year.
• Mating season usually happens between January and March.
• Gestation lasts about six months, timed so that pups are born when the rainforest is bursting with fruits and blossoms.
• This ensures that new mums have plenty to eat when energy demands are at their highest.

Courtship Behaviour

• Males set up mini territories within the roost and use special scent glands on their necks and shoulders to mark branches.
• These scents — a musky cocktail of pheromones and natural oils — serve as a kind of bat cologne, attracting females and warning off rivals.
• Males show off with a mix of chattering, screeching, and wing-flapping.

A Crucial Time for an Endangered Species

Spectacled Flying-foxes are listed as endangered, and every successful breeding season is vital to their survival.

They are pollinators and super seed dispersers. Their work keeps our rainforests healthy and connected — benefits that ripple out to our farms, gardens, and coastal environments.

WHAT IS IT?

Turbina corymbosa, also known simply as Turbina, is a fast-growing, scrambling vine native to tropical America. It was introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant but has since become highly invasive, particularly in Far North Queensland.

It occurs on the Atherton Tablelands, along the Barron River below Tinaroo Dam and on the lower Mowbray River.

WHY IS IT A PROBLEM?

Turbina vine aggressively invades rainforest margins and waterways, smothering native vegetation and disrupting ecosystems. It competes with native vines and shrubs, reducing biodiversity and altering habitat structure. Its rapid spread makes it difficult to control.

It is a significant threat to Mabi Rainforest.

CHARACTERISTICS 

Turbina can form vine towers over native vegetation that are more than 20 metres high and have thick rope-like stems.

Stems of new growth are smooth, green, cylindrical and hairless while older stems are thicker, pale grey and roughly cylindrical. Leaves are oval and heart-shaped at the base with a pointed tip.

Turbina vine has sprays of fragrant, white, bell-shaped flowers. The fruit is a papery beaked capsule full of brown, hairy seeds.

HOW TO SPOT IT ON YOUR PROPERTY

Look for climbing vines with heart-shaped leaves and clusters of white flowers. The presence of beaked fruit and rapid growth over trees or fences may indicate an infestation. Turbina has a very distinctive pale grey rope-like trunk when mature. The leaves often have distinctive holes from predation, which are not present on most native vines.

Are bats driving you batty? Living close to Spectacled Flying-fox roosts in urban areas can be challenging for residents especially during their birthing and breeding season (September-April) when the noise and smells increase.

Spectacled Flying-foxes are highly social and nomadic animals. They congregate together in roosts, which they treat like hotels or drop-in centres.

Individual bats within the roosts change regularly, with each one staying for an average of nine days before moving on to a new one (unless they have large dependent young). They can use the same roost locations for over 100 years but sometimes they start new ones or stop using old ones.

They are seasonal animals so if you live near a roost, you may notice numbers increasing dramatically around September-October. This is baby bat season when they gather in large ‘maternity roosts’ to give birth and raise their pups.

By the time Easter comes around, they start dispersing into smaller groups, so the noise and smells decrease substantially from April-August.

What can residents expect?

• Maternity roosts – Between September-December (baby bat season) roost numbers at certain sites grow dramatically.
• Noisy neighbours – As pups grow, they become louder, calling constantly for their mothers. Roosts are especially noisy at dawn and dusk.
• Protective parents – Roosts are easily disturbed during this time, with adults becoming ‘flighty’ as they protect their young.
• Risks of disturbance – If startled, mothers may abandon pups, resulting in a higher risk of human or pet interactions with young that fall from trees.
• Mating season scents – Between January and March, the mating season can be noisy and smelly as males release pheromones that give roosts a strong, distinctive odour.
• Quiet time – Around Easter, flying-foxes start to disperse into smaller groups.

Living with Spectacled Flying-foxes

Tips for living with these noisy neighbours

• Move quietly near roost sites to avoid disturbances – they make more noise when disturbed.
• Keep dogs away from roost sites and keep cats inside at night.
• Keep pet food and water indoors.
• Bring your washing in at night.
• Park your cars under shelter if possible.
• Keep doors and windows closed at dawn and dusk to reduce noise during fly-in and fly-out.
• Removing or covering fruit and flowers helps reduce backyard visits – and protects your fruit too.