Wave of Extinction hits Australia
19 Nov 2003
Australia has the highest number of threatened amphibians and reptiles in the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species, the world's most authoritative status list of threatened plants and animals.
Australia has the second highest annual ranking of global threatened animal species, according to the World Conservation Union's (IUCN) Red List released today.
12,259 species are now threatened with extinction across the world, including 1,324 Australian species.
Dr Ray Nias, WWF-Australia Conservation Director said, "These figures are extremely alarming particularly given the massive increase of species listed as vulnerable. This is a clear indication that a wave of extinction is sweeping through the Australian fauna.
"A large number of animal species are moving into the threatened category for the first time, primarily as a result of landclearing, the impact of weeds and pests and the loss of wetland habitat.
"Australia is still in a position to reverse this trend but only if we take immediate and massive action on these issues.
"We know that 1557 plants, animals and ecological communities - are now listed as threatened under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. 115 plants and animals are already extinct," Dr Nias said.
Australia (1324) is second only to the United States (1911) for the total number of animals listed under all categories,
Australia is also ranked second in threatened categories only (critical, endangered and vulnerable)
- USA (859)
- Australia (527)
- Indonesia (411)
- Brazil (282)
- South Africa (252)
- China (238)
- India (236)
Australia has the highest number of threatened reptiles (38) and amphibians (35) of any country, according to the 2003 Red List.
Australia has 74 threatened fish species and is ranked third after Mexico (106) and China (91)
More than 20 per cent of all of Australia's mammals are now threatened with extinction, according to WWF-Australia. Now the Redlist ranks the country as 6th highest for the number of threatened mammals.
Dr Nias said: "Landclearing and its consequences, such as salinisation of rivers and landscapes, are the foremost threat to the majority of species on this list. For many species, the additional impact of climate change is now providing the final straw.
"The impact is on the entire landscape. The fact that a large number of plants are now reaching threatened status means that animals relying on these for food and shelter are also directly affected," he said.
Species at immediate risk include the Regent honeyeater, northern hairy-nosed wombat, western swamp tortoise, Gilbert's potoroo, grassland earless dragon, Mary River cod, southern corroboree frog, Gouldian finch and the grey-headed flying fox.
"There is no question that land clearing throughout Australia must be stopped. This is the minimum measure for halting this alarming rate of species decline," Dr Nias said.
"Serious revegetation measures also need to be put in place to compensate for the damage already done. "
According to the Federal Government's Terrestrial Biodiversity Audit, released in April 2003, one third of the world's extinct mammals were Australian.
THE IUCN RED LIST
Dr Ray Nias, WWF-Australia conservation director, 02) 8202 1223 or 0414917297
Threatened Species Network Coordinators
NSW: Alison Colyer, Ph: (02) 8202 1222 Mob: 0410 636 538 Email:tsnnsw@wwf.org.au
QLD: Keryn Hislop, Ph: (07) 3221 0573 Mob: 0429 377 399 Email:tsnqld@wwf.org.au
VIC: Julie Kirkwood, Ph: (03) 9341 6507 Email: tsnvic@wwf.org.au
SA: Karina Mercer, Ph: (08) 8223 5155 Email: tsnsa@wwf.org.au
WA: Raquel Carter, Ph: (08) 9387 6444 Mob: 0439 938 783 Email:tsnwa@wwf.org.au
NT: Jarrad Holmes Ph: (08) 8941 7554 Email: savannas@wwf.org.au Email:jholmes@wwf.org.au
TAS: Peter McGlone, Ph: (03) 6234 3552 Email: tsntas@wwf.org.au
PHOTOS
Publication-quality photographs can be emailed immediately. WWF has an international photo database. Photographs of Australia's most endangered reptile the Western Swamp Tortoise, the Green and Golden bell frog and albatross are available.
