The harsh interior of Australia affords little luxury for our wildlife when it comes to hydration. While their coastal cousins may be able to take their pick of watering holes, these Little Red Flying-foxes do not hold such privilege. Wooded watercourses run like arteries through the arid lands of the north, providing a precious lifeline to the species that call these places home. As the smallest of our mainland flying-foxes, Little Reds travel in large numbers—sometimes gathering in camps of many thousands. They follow the flowering of eucalypts and paperbarks across inland Australia, covering huge distances in search of nectar. On hot days, they’ll dip low over rivers and creeks, skimming the surface to scoop up water with their belly fur before flying off to lick it clean. It’s a delicate dance between survival and heat, played out in a landscape that gives nothing away easily.

Jabirus, more formally known as Black-necked Storks, are an icon of Northern Australia. These imposing birds stand up to 1.3 metres tall, complimented by a wingspan stretching over two metres. Built for wetlands, they wade through floodplains and billabongs on stilt-like legs, hunting fish, frogs, and insects. Their feathers flash iridescent blues and greens in the sun, set against a stark white body and jet-black neck. Unlike most stork species, they’re found only in Australia and parts of Southeast Asia—here, they’re the last of their kind. Usually seen alone or in pairs, they can remain motionless for long stretches before suddenly bursting into a flurry of activity, vigorously hunting their next meal.

This image was awarded first place in both the Niches and Hollows (animals) and Early Career Ecologist categories in the 2024 Ecological Society of Australia Photo Competition.

Deep in the rainforests of northern Queensland, the Southern Cassowary moves through the landscape quietly, rarely seen. Standing nearly two metres tall, they cut a prehistoric figure—armoured with a towering casque, thick legs, and a flash of blue, purple and red skin that is prominent through the undergrowth. But it’s their quieter role that matters most. As one of the only animals able to swallow and disperse the large seeds of over a hundred rainforest plants, they help shape the forest itself, carrying life through the landscape one step at a time. Despite their strength, they’re vulnerable—roads, dogs, and the steady pressure of habitat loss have pushed them to the brink. To protect the Cassowary is to protect the forest it walks through. One can’t survive without the other.