It's hard to find a more maligned animal than the rat, but a new book examines whether Australia's native long-haired rat deserved to be caught up in the rodent bias settlers often brought with them to the country.
The long-haired rat, dubbed the 'plague rat' due to the great irruptions associated with La Nina rains, was actually viewed quite differently by the Aboriginal people. Professor Tim Bonyhady joins Kathryn to talk about his new book The Enchantment of the Long-haired Rat: A Rodent History of Australia.
Professor Tim Bonyhady and the cover of his new book. Photo: Supplied
