Off Track - Separate stories podcast

Ancient creatures hide on Tasmania's secret reefs.

On a coral reef, everyone works to keep the city from crumbling.

To accompany ABC TV's Wild Australia: After the Fires, here is a minute of nature sound.

But do they really say 'bonk' or is it 'tonk',’ and does a foreign accent make a frog sexy?

Imagine spending your whole life searching for the elusive, perfect fiery opal. And then, one day, you realise you're holding — literally in the palm of your sweaty hand — a glittering prize of a gem that burns with a secret that could unlock the history of the Australian continent. Welcome to the crazy world of opal mining at Lightning Ridge, NSW, where prospector Mike Poben is facing a choice that will change his life forever.

Lynne Malcolm lost half a lung, and it was *probably* as a result of a radio story about birds.

Unwittingly shipped almost 3000km across the continent in a hand of bananas, this small frog is going to need help getting home.

Ever heard a sound echoing through the forest and thought, "well crikey, that's gotta be a dinosaur"?

Dragon by name, seaweed by nature

You find yourself awake in the middle of the night and there is a willy wagtail singing to the moon. Are you loosing your mind, or does this bird occasionally turn into a were-willy?

More quollity drama for your ears.

His name is George and he's a bit of a legend.

A pioneering experiment to rid New Zealand of its pest problem.

The Philippines is a reef fish biodiversity hotspot, but it's a delicate balance between livelihoods and sustainability in some fishing communities.

How do you protect Vietnam's pristine forests from the fast-expanding road and dam projects?

Take a look back at some Australian conservation efforts, from tiny reserves to landscape-scale restoration.

Ever wondered how they get those gorgeous shots of nocturnal animals on the TV?

When the icebreaker runs aground and leaves you stranded in Antarctica, what's a scientist to do?

After years of discussions with scientists, a composer writes a symphony for the sea. He calls it ex Oceano.

Where endangered wildlife watches you showering with a bucket in the Antarctic wind.