An Australian couple had a startling experience when they pulled over on an outback road and spotted a group of wild animals staring back at them. Twelve large eyes watched their every move, but it wasn’t their safety that worried them it was the threat these animals might pose to the delicate landscape.
Photos shared by Ellisha Martion and her partner show six alarmed donkeys hiding in a narrow strip of vegetation after wandering out of the Big Desert State Forest in Victoria’s northwest.
“They were very aware of us, that’s for sure,” Ellisha said. “At one point, they made a strange noise that really frightened me because they can be defensive. It was kind of a grunt and hiss very weird.”
The park is already battling threats from feral predators like cats, foxes, and deer. The appearance of these feral donkeys has raised concerns about their impact on native plants and animals. Donkeys are considered an imminent threat to the landscape, as invasive species are responsible for the highest number of extinctions among native Australian wildlife.
The sighting highlights the ongoing challenge of protecting Australia’s unique ecosystems from invasive species and the serious risks they pose to native biodiversity.
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