Scientists in Australia have been shocked after a tiger shark vomited a spiky land-loving echidna in front of them. Scientists from the James Cook University were tagging marine life on the northeast coast when the three-metre tiger shark they caught vomited a dead echidna -- a spiny creature similar to a hedgehog, the news agency AFP reported on Thursday (June 6).

Scientists in Australia have been shocked after a tiger shark vomited a spiky land-loving echidna in front of them. Scientists from the James Cook University were tagging marine life on the northeast coast when the three-metre tiger shark they caught vomited a dead echidna -- a spiny creature similar to a hedgehog, the news agency AFP reported on Thursday (June 6). Nicolas Lubitz from the James Cook University told AFP he could only assume the shark gobbled up the echidna while it was swimming in the shallows off the island, or travelling between islands. "We were quite shocked at what we saw. We really didn't know what was going on. When it spat it out, I looked at it and remarked 'What the hell is that?" he added. 'Tiger sharks will eat anything' The dead echidna was whole when it was regurgitated in May 2022, leading scientists to assume the shark had only recently eaten it, Lubitz told AFP. The scientist also pointed out that tiger sharks would eat anything. "They're just a scavenger. I've seen videos of them eating a rock for no reason," Lubitz said, adding, "I think the echidna must have just felt a bit funny in its throat." The shark was unharmed after its spiky snack and scientists fitted it with an acoustic tracker before releasing it back into the water. (With inputs from agencies)

Australian scientists shocked after tiger shark vomits spiky echidna

Climate change and rising sea levels could destroy the mangroves of Sundarbans, the last coastal stronghold of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sundarbans-world-heritage-forest-declared-pirate-free-by-bangladesh-19469">Bengal tiger</a> in India and Bangladesh, according to a study published by the James Cook University on Monday.

The littoral habitat of the predator, the world's biggest cat, could be completely destroyed over the next five decades, the study by the Australian university found.

"Fewer than 4,000 Bengal tigers are alive today," said JCU's Professor Bill Laurance, a co-author of the study.

The scientist said that the animal was now "mainly confined to small areas of India and Bangladesh" and warned that the Tigers were getting a "double whammy - greater human encroachment on the one hand and a worsening climate and associated sea-level rises on the other."

"Beyond climate change, the Sundarbans are under growing pressure from industrial developments, new roads, and greater poaching," Laurance added in a statement by the university.

The study's lead author, Sharif Mukul, of the Independent University Bangladesh, said that the Sundarbans region, which spans over 10,000 square kilometres (3,861 square miles), is the biggest mangrove forest on the planet and is "the most critical area for Bengal tiger survival."

"What is most terrifying is that our analyses suggest tiger habitats in the Sundarbans will vanish entirely by 2070," he added in the statement.

The study is based on computer simulations to assess the future suitability of the low-lying Sundarban region for tigers and their prey species and uses mainstream estimates of climatic trends from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The researchers' analyses also included factors such as extreme weather events and sea-level rise. In spite&nbsp;of the&nbsp;bleak forecast, the researchers are still hopeful of the Bengal tiger's survival.

"The more of the Sundarbans that can be conserved-via new protected areas and reducing illegal poaching-the more resilient it will be to future climatic extremes and rising sea levels," Laurance said.

"There is no other place like the Sundarbans left on Earth,' said Professor Laurance. 'We have to look after this iconic ecosystem if we want amazing animals like the Bengal tiger to have a chance of survival," he concluded.

Climate change and rising sea levels could destroy the mangroves of Sundarbans, the last coastal stronghold of the Bengal tiger in India and Bangladesh, according to a study published by the James Cook University on Monday.

Climate change and rising sea levels could destroy the mangroves of Sundarbans, the last coastal stronghold of the Bengal tiger in India and Bangladesh, according to a study published by the James Cook University on Monday. The littoral habitat of the predator, the world's biggest cat, could be completely destroyed over the next five decades, the study by the Australian university found. "Fewer than 4,000 Bengal tigers are alive today," said JCU's Professor Bill Laurance, a co-author of the study. The scientist said that the animal was now "mainly confined to small areas of India and Bangladesh" and warned that the Tigers were getting a "double whammy - greater human encroachment on the one hand and a worsening climate and associated sea-level rises on the other." "Beyond climate change, the Sundarbans are under growing pressure from industrial developments, new roads, and greater poaching," Laurance added in a statement by the university. The study's lead author, Sharif Mukul, of the Independent University Bangladesh, said that the Sundarbans region, which spans over 10,000 square kilometres (3,861 square miles), is the biggest mangrove forest on the planet and is "the most critical area for Bengal tiger survival." "What is most terrifying is that our analyses suggest tiger habitats in the Sundarbans will vanish entirely by 2070," he added in the statement. The study is based on computer simulations to assess the future suitability of the low-lying Sundarban region for tigers and their prey species and uses mainstream estimates of climatic trends from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The researchers' analyses also included factors such as extreme weather events and sea-level rise. In spite of the bleak forecast, the researchers are still hopeful of the Bengal tiger's survival. "The more of the Sundarbans that can be conserved-via new protected areas and reducing illegal poaching-the more resilient it will be to future climatic extremes and rising sea levels," Laurance said. "There is no other place like the Sundarbans left on Earth,' said Professor Laurance. 'We have to look after this iconic ecosystem if we want amazing animals like the Bengal tiger to have a chance of survival," he concluded.

Climate change threatens Sundarbans, coastal home of endangered Royal Bengal tiger: Study

Australia's Great Barrier Reef will receive A$500 million (US$379.10 million) in new funding to restore water quality and protect the coral from starfish attacks, government ministers announced on Sunday.

Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said in a televised interview that some of the money would go directly to farmers to modify their practices "to ensure that the reef doesn't get the large amounts of sediment, nitrogen and pesticide run-off which is so damaging to coral and which helps breed this crown-of-thorns starfish."

The Great Barrier Reef, which can be seen from space, covers 348,000 square kilometres and was world-heritage listed in 1981 as the most spectacular coral reef on the planet, according to the website of the United Nations cultural body UNESCO.

UNESCO considered putting it on the "in danger" list last year due to recent widespread destruction but voted against it, allowing Australia's conservative government to dodge political embarrassment and potential damage to the country's tourism industry.

A major outbreak of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish has been destroying areas of the world heritage-listed reef, prompting a major cull in January.

The predator starfish feeds on corals by spreading its stomach over them and using digestive enzymes to liquefy tissue.

Agricultural run-off from sugar cane farms and cattle stations has also harmed the section of reef that is closest to shore, according to Bradley Opdyke, a marine scientist at the Australian National University.

"What happens with the sediment is it just smothers it, while higher nutrients cause algae to out-compete the corals," he told Reuters by telephone on Sunday.

While the funding announcement was welcomed by scientists, some were sceptical about whether it would actually help.

Jon Brodie, a professor at James Cook University's Coral Reef Studies Centre of Excellence said the funding was an extension of existing failed programs.

"It's not working, it's not achieving major water quality improvements," he told Reuters by telephone on Sunday.

However, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that Australia was a world leader in managing and protecting its reef, as the government's Reef 2050 plan had been approved by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as being the standard for the rest of the world to follow.

"They look to Australia to provide the technical expertise with the scientific research and to give the best practice management of coral reefs and that's what we demonstrate," she told reporters on Sunday from Cairns on Australia's east coast.

The Great Barrier Reef, which can be seen from space, covers 348,000 square kilometres and was world-heritage listed in 1981 as the most spectacular coral reef on the planet, according to the website of the United Nations cultural body UNESCO

Australia's Great Barrier Reef will receive A$500 million (US$379.10 million) in new funding to restore water quality and protect the coral from starfish attacks, government ministers announced on Sunday. Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said in a televised interview that some of the money would go directly to farmers to modify their practices "to ensure that the reef doesn't get the large amounts of sediment, nitrogen and pesticide run-off which is so damaging to coral and which helps breed this crown-of-thorns starfish." The Great Barrier Reef, which can be seen from space, covers 348,000 square kilometres and was world-heritage listed in 1981 as the most spectacular coral reef on the planet, according to the website of the United Nations cultural body UNESCO. UNESCO considered putting it on the "in danger" list last year due to recent widespread destruction but voted against it, allowing Australia's conservative government to dodge political embarrassment and potential damage to the country's tourism industry. A major outbreak of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish has been destroying areas of the world heritage-listed reef, prompting a major cull in January. The predator starfish feeds on corals by spreading its stomach over them and using digestive enzymes to liquefy tissue. Agricultural run-off from sugar cane farms and cattle stations has also harmed the section of reef that is closest to shore, according to Bradley Opdyke, a marine scientist at the Australian National University. "What happens with the sediment is it just smothers it, while higher nutrients cause algae to out-compete the corals," he told Reuters by telephone on Sunday. While the funding announcement was welcomed by scientists, some were sceptical about whether it would actually help. Jon Brodie, a professor at James Cook University's Coral Reef Studies Centre of Excellence said the funding was an extension of existing failed programs. "It's not working, it's not achieving major water quality improvements," he told Reuters by telephone on Sunday. However, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that Australia was a world leader in managing and protecting its reef, as the government's Reef 2050 plan had been approved by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as being the standard for the rest of the world to follow. "They look to Australia to provide the technical expertise with the scientific research and to give the best practice management of coral reefs and that's what we demonstrate," she told reporters on Sunday from Cairns on Australia's east coast.

Australia announces US$379 million funding for Great Barrier Reef