There is a vast wealth of species diversity across Australia’s landscapes. From kangaroos to cockatoos, many of these species occur nowhere else on Earth.
Species conservation lies at the heart of WWF’s work throughout Australia. It is estimated that there are more than half a million species distinct to Australia, only 150,000 of which have been described by science.
1
The Australian Government recognises about 1,500 of these species as threatened
2, however this figure is thought to lag far behind the actual number of threatened species.
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Climate change, ongoing habitat destruction caused by landclearing, and the enormous risk posed by invasive weeds and feral animals mean that our native plants and animals face a bleak future if action is not urgently taken.
WWF-Australia’s priority species align with
our global priorities and serve to highlight important regional conservation issues.
Australia’s flagship species
WWF-Australia works alongside global partners to protect important species and their habitats, and to inform our supporters and the public about what they can do to help save our threatened species.
The priority species that WWF-Australia is currently working to protect include the:
