Rebecca Baker

Australia comes together for threatened species

07 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment

by Rebecca in Environment, National News, Science

By REBECCA BAKER

Yellow Spotted Tree Frog

Today is National Threatened Species Day (NTSD) and on this day many people around the country work to preserve Australia’s unique flora and fauna.

The day serves as a reminder to all Australians that our native species have been severely impacted by habitat loss, foreign plants and animals, pollution and climate change.

 NTSD also commemorates the death of the last Tasmanian tiger at Hobart Zoo in 1936.

 Tasmania’s acting Minister for Environment, Parks and Heritage, Bryan Green says, “Conservation of our threatened species isn’t just about the decisions and actions undertaken by governments, wildlife specialists and scientists.” He says.

“Every one of us can play a role in the survival of our state’s threatened species simply by the decisions we make.”

 Up to twenty per cent of Australia’s animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction and considered endangered including the grey nurse shark, Tasmanian devil, bilby and Murray cod.

 Conservationists aimed to draw attention to endangered animals like these ones today by bringing a koala, python and Tasmanian devil into Parliament House in Canberra.

 Zoo and Aquarium Association spokesman Chris West said in a news conference today that things were looking grim for classic Australian icons such as ‘the devil’.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is doing their part as well, calling for the protection of animals and their habitats, specifically the Murray Darling Basin.

Sean Hoobin, WWF-Australia’s Freshwater Policy Manager says “The Murray Darling Basin needs to be managed holistically. We need to improve water quality, protect special areas, and work with rural producers to implement sustainable land practices.”

Wildlife Queensland is asking the public to ‘Adopt a Quoll’ today to help save threatened wildlife.

Ewa Meyer, Projects Manager for Wildlife Queensland says ‘By symbolically adopting a quoll, we hope people will feel more closely involved with all the wonderful but threatened wildlife of Queensland.’

Sydney Universities Macleay Museum put a Tasmanian Tiger specimen on display, hosted a children’s art day and the curator of Natural History, Liz Jefferys, spoke about some of the current issues threatening species today.

Many other organisations around the country are working towards a sustainable future because of this important day.