Cave Animal of the Year Australia

Congratulations Dr Jess

Spotlight on scientists

Meet Dr Jess Marsh! Dr Jess is an arachnid 🕷 taxonomist and was on our most recent expedition on the Far West Coast of South Australia. Keep an eye on our stories to find out more about Dr Jess!

Parks Australia Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment BHP Earthwatch Australia South Australian Museum

Bats have a negative reputation, but do they deserve such a bad rap? A bat ecologist says negative stereotypes and links to the COVID-19 outbreak have given bats a poor reputation, yet they play an important role in controlling insects, pollinating plants and spreading seeds.

It's hard to believe that 2023 is nearly at a close, but with it comes a new Cave Animal of the Year. Welcome 2024 Cave Animal of the Year - the Nullarbor Blind Cave Spider. The launch coincided with a visit to the Mole Creek Karst National Park to farewell 2023's caving activities.

Drum roll, please ..... Cave Animal of the Year Australia 2024 is .... the Nullarbor Blind Cave Spider! Read more about these long-legged cave-dwellers and how four new species of Troglodiplura have been linked to the famous 2018 Thailand cave rescue: https://www.caveanimaloftheyear.org.au/

As always, contact Cathie at [email protected] for more information about this project, or to order some of our shiny new merch.

As the year draws to a close, we have one final instalment for the 2023 Australian Cave Animal of the Year, this time from a class at Collier Primary, in Western Australia (thanks to the teacher and the Principal for letting us share):

“This Term, Year 3 students at Collier Primary enjoyed learning about the fascinating world of Arachnocampa Genus, our special Glow-worm friends. Students illustrated adventure scenes that depict how seeing Glow-worms when caving fills our minds with thoughts of magic, wonder and possibility! We hope you enjoy them!“

Thanks everyone at Collier Primary, we loved to receive these images to share. We think it is a fabulous effort, especially given how far away from glow worms and their habitat that you live.

Merry Christmas everyone and remember to watch this space, for 2024’s Cave Animal of the Year.