If you find yourself at a loose end, all alone or just don’t really enjoy the Christmas thing then why not contact Native Animal Rescue or a local wildlife care group.

They always need extra help as many people disappear on holiday or are tied up with children and family commitments at this time of year.

Wishing you all a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.

They are very little creatures, the biggest ones are under 1mm long or smaller than this dot . They are noted for being quite cute looking under a microscope and phenomenally tough, living and even thriving under conditions that would normally finish off even the toughest living creatures. That’s partly why scientists study them. So they sent some into space to see how they cope. The study has confirmed them officially as the first animal species to survive in space. Google TARDIS FOTON – M3 for more info.

If you are a Regulation 17 licensed relocator and want to be included please send your name, mobile and list which suburbs you are willing to be called out to.

KING COBRA (Ophiophagus hannah)

The longest venomous snake in the world up to 5m – a snake eating snake and just an all round awesome serpent. Not found in Australia this image from Chilean national Javier (pronounced havier) and taken in Bali.

KOMODO DRAGON (Varanus komodensis)

Largest lizard in the world at up to 2.6m long. Found on only 5 Lesser Sunda Islands islands in south eastern Indonesia - Komodo, Rinca, Gili montang, Padar and Flores. Images also from Javier Perez de Arce who obviously had a great trip.

WHITE LIPPED PIT VIPER (Trimeresurus insularis)

How beautiful is this? A moderately dangerous tree climbing viper.

VINE SNAKE (Ahuetella prasine)

A stunningly camouflaged slender snake that just hangs about and can glide through the leaves and branches at speed searching for lizards and other prey.

MALLEEFOWL (Leipoa ocellata)

This image from Forrestania Nickel Mine lands out in South Eastern Wheatbelt some 400km east of Perth.

LAKE CRONIN SNAKE (Paroplocephalus atriceps)

With a tiny distribution this small snake with a distinct black head is only around Lake Cronin in WA. A poorly studied, rarely kept species that apparently eats lizards and may climb.

The bottom line is this is an extremely rare creature. Once found over 60% of the country they now occur in less than 1% and remain a critically endangered species.

I have been lucky enough to meet an educational Woylie at Native Animal Rescue in Malaga and a delightful little creature it is - dense soft brown greyish fur with a distinctive black crest on the tail.

A miniature kangaroo - they are small at 30-38cm body length and weigh in at around 1.6kg. Unfortunately for them that’s just the size and weight that cats and foxes like to eat most.

Early last century they were considered an agricultural pest and millions were shot or trapped or taken for the fur trade. Now despite their great bounding speed the Woylies main threats in life are as ever our introduced predators. In south western WA just three remnant populations remain.

They forage at night digging around for fruiting bodies of fungi but also bulbs, tubers, seeds and insects.

Woylies can breed almost continuously when conditions are right. From 6 months of age females mature and can produce about 3 joeys a year. Usually a female has one pouched young and another little one hopping around with her.

Their tails are prehensile (able to grip) and used to transport leaves and twigs for a nest in which they rest up during the day. They can live for up to 6 years.