Fungal Threat to Aussie Reptiles: Urgent Action Needed

0:00It's March 3rd in Sydney. Let's get into the news. Researchers have tracked the same group of eastern water dragons in Brisbane's Roma Street Parklands for 15 years. They've uncovered a fungal disease called an aniseopsis barbatai that's hitting these lizards hard. It causes skin lesions, lethargy, and can lead to starvation or even limb loss in severe cases. The infections spiked two to three years ago, and now affect about half the park's water dragon population. But it's not limited there. The fungus shows up in other reptile groups across Brisbane, and outbreaks have reached as far as Dubbo, Perth, New South Wales, and Western. Australia. Infected dragons die much sooner than healthy ones, raising alarms among scientists. They compare to devastating fungi like Kytrid, which wiped out frog species in Australia, or white-nosed syndrome in bats worldwide. This new threat could impact many reptile species with no known treatment. Experts still don't know if the fungus is native to Australia, or introduced from elsewhere. If it's new, the effects

1:03could be even worse, as reptiles haven't built resistance. Climate change and wildlife movement might be fueling its spread. Wildlife specialists call for urgent nationwide surveillance. More research is needed to track the fungus, understand its origins, and protect Australia's reptile biodiversity before it becomes a full-blown. Crisis. DNA is brought to you by our sponsor link in the description. When you want calm, do not reach for your phone. Layback and listen.