Their deaths may be the first sign of wider ecological problems. But what puzzles scientists even more is that many of the deaths are happening in pristine areas, virtually untouched by pollution and habitat change. Testing Overseas researchers will now begin testing for the fungus in their frog populations and in Australia, an eradication program is planned. We really want to get in there before the fungus arrives and make sure you can protect those species and perhaps breed them in captivity and develop some sort of resistance so that they don't just completely be decimated and totally destroyed by the fungus. So it is a bit of a race, actually.
Scientists hope it is a race they can win.
The film La Spagnola is going against the odds to succeed in the Australian film market. Australia's national anthem could have been a toe-tapping modern day masterpiece. The Federal Government will build a new sports hall on Christmas Island that will double as a reception centre for unauthorised asylum seekers. British researchers have confirmed that Japan is home to the world's first case of mad cow disease outside Europe.