Sad find washed up on Aussie beach prompts urgent plea
A large pod of 157 whales have beached themselves on a remote beach in Tasmania — prompting an urgent plea to the public from authorities.
The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE) told Yahoo News it believes 136 of the animals are still alive as they lie helpless on the sand. The animals appear to be false killer whales.
NRE explained the stranding near Arthur River on the west coast is at a remote location and this is hindering the rescue mission as the lack of road access is making it "fairly inaccessible". Authorities have warned that due to bushfires on the west coast of the island, the public is encouraged to stay away.
"The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania's Marine Conservation Program (MCP) is working alongside staff from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service to conduct initial assessments and plan an appropriate response," a spokesperson said.
"All whales are protected species, even once deceased, and it is an offence to interfere with a carcass."Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
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Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Are dads doing enough? What the data tells us about the state of modern fatherhood.
As Father's Day approaches, American dads insist they're doing a lot more parenting than the men who raised them, according to a new Yahoo News/YouGov poll. Some dads even claim they're doing more than the women they're parenting with. Yet the survey of 1,560 U.S. adults also taps into the complexities and contradictions of contemporary fatherhood, revealing that even the most egalitarian dads might see themselves in ways that don't quite match up with how others see them. Their partners included. I know a little something about this. One of my duties as national correspondent for Yahoo News is to collaborate on our monthly polls with YouGov, a leading public-opinion firm. I write the questions, then analyze and report on the results. At the same time, my wife and I are trying our best to help our two kids — a 9-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy — grow up to be good people. Like many other millennial parents — I just turned 43 — we aspire to contribute equally to that effort. And so I figured Father's Day would be as good a time as any to ask my fellow dads some of the questions I'm always asking myself. How much are we really doing these days? And is it enough? Gender roles are a perennial topic in the parenting world, and the general consensus is that even though more opposite-sex couples than ever believe in 50/50 parenting — and even though dads have become more involved over the years — moms still do most of the domestic labor. According to a 2023 study by the Pew Research Center, for example, wives in so-called egalitarian marriages — that is, couples where each partner earns about the same amount of money — still spend more than twice as much time on housework than their husbands, and almost two hours more per week on caregiving, including tending to children. 'Egalitarian' husbands, meanwhile, spend three-and-a-half more hours per week on 'leisure activities' than their wives. Yet there may be more to the data than meets the eye, at least based on the results of the new Yahoo News/YouGov poll. For one thing, nearly two-thirds of American dads (63%) now say they spend more time with their kids than their fathers spent with them — and a full 37% describe that generational difference as 'significant.' Dads feel like they're putting in the hours and making progress. What's more surprising, however, is that a third of fathers (34%) also say they carry more than half of their family's "mental load," while another four in 10 (39%) say they shoulder about half. Combined, that's roughly three-quarters of dads who believe the balance is either 50/50 or skewed in their direction. In contrast, just 28% of dads admit to bearing less than half (14%) or none (4%) of their family's mental load. It's fair to say those numbers contradict what researchers have found — and what most moms would tell us if we asked them the same questions about the fathers in their lives. When I shared the poll with my wife and asked how she would answer for me, we agreed on everything — except mental load. And when I told her how many dads seem to believe they shoulder at least half the mental load, she scoffed. My sense is that this disparity reveals a lot about the state of dads today. For the record, I don't really think I take on more of the mental load than my wife — not as the term is typically defined. But I also think the tasks we typically define as 'mental load' fail to fully capture what dads tend to contribute. Here's how the poll put it: 'Mental load refers to the cognitive and emotional effort involved in managing and coordinating household tasks, responsibilities and relationships. As a father, how much of your family's mental load do you believe you carry?' Again, nearly three out of four dads say they do half or more of this invisible labor — these hidden forms of care. Yet when asked which specific parenting responsibilities they 'regularly take on,' relatively few fathers with children aged 18 or younger pick things like 'make the kids' doctor appointments' (36%), 'sign up the kids for camps/school activities/lessons' (26%), 'schedule playdates with the kids' friends' (18%), 'volunteer for school activities' (15%) or 'book babysitters/child care' (10%) — i.e., the classic mental load stuff. Instead, these dads are much more inclined to say they "play with the kids" (72%), "help with homework" (54%), "take the kids on outings" (52%), 'put the kids to bed' (44%) and 'make dinner' (42%). So it's not like dads are deluded. When asked point-blank about their role — Who are your kids closer to? Who spends more time parenting? Who would your kids' school call first? — a majority of fathers answer either 'me' or 'it's about equal.' But an even larger majority answer either 'it's about equal' or 'their mother.' In other words, dads understand that the parenting scales still aren't perfectly balanced. Why, then, do so many dads seem to think that we're carrying more of the mental load than we get credit for? My guess is that we consider that category to be a little more capacious than our partners do. For the initial draft of the Yahoo News/YouGov Father Day's poll, my editors — both moms — floated a fairly narrow set of options for the 'parenting responsibilities' question: booking babysitters, volunteering at school, making doctor appointments and so on. I responded with some additional choices that 'might capture more of what most dads do': playing with the kids, going on outings, cleaning up after dinner, etc. I also told my editors that 'in general, I think mental load conversations miss things like this (even if they are more about household management than parenting, per se): take care of the house, take care of the yard, take care of the car, take care of the garbage, take care of the finances. We didn't end up asking dads about those duties. But looking back, I can't help but wonder if they would have polled even higher than, say, playing with the kids — and if they were the kinds of responsibilities our dad respondents had in mind when assessing their own share of the mental load. For me, I think the answer is yes. In 2010, I wrote an essay for Newsweek explaining why marriage mattered so much to me; it was a direct rebuttal to a piece by two of my female colleagues about why the institution is 'quite simply, no longer necessary." I agreed with my coworkers that all of marriage's 'antiquated ancillary benefits — its grubby socioeconomic justifications' — no longer really applied. But that, I argued, was 'the point.' 'Dustin and I are not 'getting anything' out of this deal,' I explained. 'Or at least we're not getting what previous generations of men and women were conditioned to expect. I'm not getting a cooking, cleaning, child-rearing machine. She's not getting a bringer-home of the bacon. I clean. Both of us cook. Sometimes, Dustin earns more money than I do. Sometimes she doesn't. We both go to work every day. We both have careers. And when we have children, we'll both take turns staying home to raise them. 'In other words,' I continued, 'our roles within the relationship are not defined by gender. They're defined by who we are as people. … In a world where the practical reasons for marriage no longer apply, the only reason left is love.' Fifteen years and two kids later, nearly every word of that essay still rings true to me. I do all of the laundry — and almost all of the cleaning. She packs lunches; I make dinner. She works longer hours. I drop off the kids at school in the morning, then pick them up in the afternoon. I coach their soccer teams. She plays with them more. We both read books at bedtime. But if I'm being honest with myself, our 'roles within the relationship' are still somewhat 'defined by gender.' As my wife was quick to point out when I shared the mental load results with her, she's the one who makes the doctor appointments, schedules the playdates, books the babysitters and signs up for summer camps. 'OK,' I said. 'But what about all the 'invisible labor' I do?' I mentioned the finances, the house, the yard, the car, the garbage. 'That doesn't have anything to do with parenting,' she responded. 'It's household management,' I responded. 'Someone has to do it.' 'But someone would have to do it even if we didn't have kids,' she said. I think we both have a point here. I feel like I'm doing about half of the hands-on parenting, plus a bunch of hidden work that keeps our lives running smoothly. She feels like she's doing about half of the hands-on parenting, plus a bunch of hidden work that keeps our kids' lives running smoothly. We've gravitated toward these roles — mine indirectly related to parenting, hers directly — because of gender. Or, more specifically, because of gender expectations. The truth is, I don't feel judged for not volunteering at school, or not packing a particularly healthy lunch, or not hosting a playdate. My wife does. She even judges herself. As a dad, I tend to feel OK about how much I do. As a mom, she tends to feel guilty for not doing more. We've inherited and internalized different standards of what it means to be a parent — and hers are higher. That's hard to shake. Egalitarian dads might think they're shouldering half of the mental load, or more. But as hard as we're lifting, most of us still don't know what that feels like. __________________ The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,560 U.S. adults interviewed online from May 22-27, 2025. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race, education, 2024 election turnout and presidential vote, party identification and current voter registration status. Demographic weighting targets come from the 2019 American Community Survey. Party identification is weighted to the estimated distribution at the time of the election (31% Democratic, 32% Republican). Respondents were selected from YouGov's opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S. adults. The margin of error is approximately 2.9%.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Drivers warned as tragic scene on Aussie roadside prompts calls for rule change
A driver's devastating ordeal on a quiet rural road has prompted an outcry from Aussies — with some calling for major change. Queensland's Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) confirmed to Yahoo News that a cassowary was hit by a car near Mission Beach on Thursday, with the sad scene prompting some to call for a drastic reduction in speed limits on roads that cut through the bird's natural habitat — and for drivers to pay more attention to native animals. The area in Far North Queenslad is famous for its cassowary population, with many flocking from around the world to see the giant flightless birds which are adored and feared in equal measure. Local residents regularly share excited tales of the elusuive creatures exploring their backyards, making the loss a huge blow to the community. Video shared by Mission Beach Wildcare showed the male cassowary, which "ran straight out in front of a car," lying under a blanket on the side of Tully Mission Beach Rd. The driver who hit the bird immediately called for assistance after the tragic accident. The impact of the car alone did not kill the bird, but sadly the severity of the injuries it sustained caused it to be "humanely euthanised", the department told Yahoo. Sadly, the cassowary was accompanied by two juvenile birds, who must now fend for themselves. "A member of the public reported the incident and remained with the bird until the department could arrange for a veterinarian to attend the scene and assess its condition," A DETSI spokesperson told Yahoo News. "Two juvenile cassowaries that were with their father at the time of the incident were unharmed. "Following a thorough assessment, the veterinarian determined that the juveniles were of sufficient age and stage of development to be left in the wild, rather than having to be taken into care." DETSI's policy is to avoid removing wild animals from their natural habitat unless "absolutely necessary". Yahoo Understands that officers will continue monitoring the young birds to make sure they are coping on their own. "New wildlife crossing signage has also been installed in the area to alert motorists to the presence of cassowaries along Tully Mission Beach Road and help prevent further incidents," the department said. A spokesperson for Mission Beach Wildcare explained that many of the locals know the birds well, making it an especially tough blow. The spokesperson pleaded with drivers to "please be aware of our wildlife" as traffic flow increases with the tourist season kicking in, fearing this is the first of many "more casualties on the horizon". Speed limits along the road which connects the town of Tully to Mission Beach, reach as high as 100kph in some parts, prompting calls from some local residents to drastically alter rules around speed in the region. "Drivers just need to slow down and watch out for wildlife," one local resident said, with others echoing this call. Earlier this year, NRMA released details of its Wildlife Collision Hotspots across Australia — with 12,100 claims related to cases of animals being hit by cars in 2024. The statistic makes the last 12 months the second worst in the past five years. Data revealed that the most common time for incidents to occur is in autumn and winter when days are shorter, cooler and nocturnal animals are more active. Worryingly, incidents jumped by 25 per cent between March and April last year. Sadly, there is another issue impacting cassowary populations. They are being fed by humans, causing them to cross roads "more frequently than necessary" for an easy meal. Authorities have repeatedly pleaded with tourists and residents to never feed or interact with the wild animals. The birds have been seen brazenly entering camper's tents, indicating that it has become habituated to receiving food from humans. In another incident, wild footage emerged of a cassowary chasing after a woman with a McDonald's Big Mac, renewing the pleas to steer clear of the world's most dangerous animal. DETSI said that visitors and residents can help reserve wild populations of cassowaries in the following ways: Never approach cassowaries. Never approach chicks – male cassowaries will defend them. Never feed cassowaries – it is illegal and can be dangerous for the birds and for humans. Always discard food scraps in closed bins and ensure compost bins have secure lids. Always slow down when driving in cassowary territory. Never stop your vehicle to look at cassowaries on the road. Keep dogs behind fences or on a leash. Cassowary sightings in north Queensland should be reported to QPWS by calling 1300 130 372. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Incredible drone photo shows 'prolific' problem costing Australia $100m annually
An Australian pest controller has highlighted a destructive issue impacting rural Australia, causing a $100 million burden on the agricultural industry every year. Incredible drone images of an oat paddock on the mid North Coast of New South Wales highlight just how effectively and systematically feral pigs can dig up crops in search of their next meal. Licensed shooter Nathan told Yahoo News that pigs are "prolific" in the area. It took him just four hours to take down 75 of the invasive beasts earlier this week. "It looks like a WW2 field in Normandy after a mortar barrage," he said of the destruction caused by the pests. To Nathan, it highlights exactly what a population of feral pigs can do in a "very short space of time" on soft, wet ground. In NSW, it's estimated that pigs occupy up to 60 per cent of the state. They spread weeds, disease, and outcompete native species. While it's widely accepted that feral pigs will never be completely eradicated in mainland Australia, the shocking images have prompted calls for a "realistic" approach to tackling the issue. Dr Carol Booth from the Invasive Species Council told Yahoo News pigs are "well known" for causing such damage, adding that it's a "real problem". The omnivorous animals will "eat all sorts", even digging up native turtles and their eggs. "They're after roots and grubs and insects and seeds and worms, so there's a lot of food for them in the soil," she explained. "It's not just in paddocks but in natural habitats, and you often come across diggings and instantly recognise them as pigs." The economic burden of such destruction falls heavily on crop growers and pastoralists. "If they get a big mob of pigs, they'll lose some of their crop or pasture," Booth said. President of the Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters Association (APDHA), Ned Makim previously told Yahoo the onus has fallen on landowners to eliminate the species — who he likened to rodents. Some land owners are calling in vertebrate pest controllers like Nathan while others are offering free accommodation to shooters whose sole responsibility is to keep their populations down. 🐗 Bold new national park plan to hunt invasive species 📸 Incredible photos show major triumph in $100m invasive outback battle 🔥 Unexpected way pristine Aussie island wiped out invasive threat Dr Booth said that authorities need to be "totally realistic" about what it will take to solve the huge problem of feral pigs. "They are highly adaptable and they are very widespread," she said, adding that it's "not feasible" to control their populations across the entirety of our vast country. Many have called for bounties for feral pigs, foxes and cats, with one politician telling Yahoo we're "losing the battle" against the species. But Dr Booth doesn't think it's the right solution, arguing ground shooting alone is "fairly limited" across large areas. 'If you're trying to control pigs at a landscape level, hunters are not the solution because they are not effective enough," she explained. She argues a combination of aerial shooting, ground shooting, baiting and trapping is required to manage feral pig numbers, all while focusing on key at-risk areas. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
