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Australia is home to some of the most extraordinary wildlife on the planet, from the mountain pygmy possum tucked away in alpine regions, to tiny marsupials darting through the underbrush. But how well do we really know them?

A recent study by Patrick Finnerty and researchers from the University of Sydney and Deakin University suggests we’re losing touch. Many Australians aren’t spending time in nature and as a result, we’re missing out on understanding the very species that make our ecosystems so unique.

His team also maps out where these animals live, and how we can observe them without causing harm or stress.

Razor’s Edge Reporter Thomas Koutis speaks to Patrick Finnerty, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Conservation and Wildlife Management at the University of Sydney.

Hosted on air on August 28, 2025, on Razor’s Edge by Annamarie Reyes