Across Australia signs of ecological collapse are piling up

Every year thousands of giant cuttlefish put on a dazzling show in the freezing waters of South Australia’s Spencer Gulf. But this year the cuttlefish are missing in action and scientists and divers like Manny Katz say it will be very hard for the population to recover. Giant cuttlefish numbers collapsing in South Australia’s algal soaked waters, fur seals with alopecia on a remote Victorian island, hundreds of dead pelican chicks found dead in the far  west of New South Wales. Our natural world is sick and in distress, but are we paying attention? Euan Ritchie, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at Deakin University says ecosystems across Australia are showing signs of collapse. It’s the ultimate story of triumph over adversity, a black autistic academic becomes the youngest ever to be granted a professorship at the prestigious Cambridge University. The downfall of rockstar British scholar Jason Arday has critics of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives frothing but Daniel Engber, staff writer at The Atlantic says his story is unbelievable in so many respects.