Conservation of endangered species - WWF

Australia's vast continent is home to some of the most magnificent plants and animals on Earth. Many have evolved in splendid geographical isolation and are found nowhere else.

Their future is in our hands.

WWF works in partnership with a variety of organisations, communities and individuals to protect those endangered species most in need. While we might focus our efforts on charismatic animals — like rock-wallabies, black cockatoos, quolls and marine turtles— their protection enhances the survival of many other species. Entire landscapes and ecosystems benefit from our approach.

Together, we can work for the conservation of Australia's most threatened and endangered species, restore their habitats and win the fight against extinction.

Species we save

Everyday, WWF-Australia works to save a growing number of threatened species.

More species we work with

In-the-field

WWF-Australia doesn't just work within the borders of Australia, we also work within the Asia-Pacific region to deliver significant conservation outcomes and to save endangered species.

Why it matters

Over thirty million years of geographical isolation has created animal and plant species unique to our continent. However, this rich biological diversity has seriously declined since European settlement. Some 29 Australian mammals have become extinct over the past 200 years. Sadly, other taxonomic groups have fared little better.

Rate of decline

About 1,700 plant and animal species are listed as threatened under the Australian Government’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC). A further 90 are considered extinct.

Ecosystem benefits

We focus our efforts on species like rock-wallabies, marine turtles, tigers and rhinos, whose protection influences and supports the survival of other species. Protecting flagship and priority threatened species offers opportunities to protect whole landscapes or marine areas.

Human interest

Our species conservation also directly helps people, through improved livelihoods, food security, governance and empowerment. WWF-Australia’s partnerships with Traditional Owners benefits culturally significant threatened species while providing real employment and training opportunities for some of the country’s most remote and economically marginalised communities.

Why mammals?

Mammals are the most distinct and unique fauna in Australia. In the land of the kangaroo, the platypus and the koala, our mammals are the most distinctive in the world. 86% can’t be found anywhere else.

But our mammal population is dwindling. And the main ones in danger of extinction or decline are those that fall in a critical weight range – 35 to 5,500 grams. Threatened species in this range include woylies, numbats, bandicoots, bilbies, quokkas, quolls and rock-wallabies, which are particularly vulnerable to predators like feral cats and foxes.

Helping Save The World’s Iconic Species

Globally, WWF has been working successfully on the conservation of the world’s most iconic species for over 50 years. Regionally, WWF-Australia has been supporting species conservation work on tigers, orangutans, elephants, rhinos and snow leopards. These highly threatened animals are the focus of concerted WWF global campaigns and strategies. With the help of our amazing supporters and their endless generosity Australia will continue to marshal funds and resources to support our neighbours deliver significant wildlife conservation outcomes.

Thylacine family at Beaumaris Zoo in Hobart, 1910 / Public Domain

National Threatened Species Day

On 7 September each year, many people stop and reflect on the fact that on that same date in 1936, Australia’s Tasmanian tiger, also known as the thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), slipped over the extinction line.

Sixty years later in 1996, WWF-Australia’s Threatened Species Network and the Australian Government established National Threatened Species Day to commemorate the death of the last Tasmanian tiger at Hobart Zoo.

WWF-Australia is working to ensure our nation’s threatened species don’t suffer the same fate.

LEARN MORE

Threats

Our most vulnerable species face a number of key threats.

Species

Species we save

In-the-field

Why it matters

Rate of decline

Ecosystem benefits

Human interest

Why mammals?

Helping Save The World’s Iconic Species

National Threatened Species Day

Threats

FIRE

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE AND POACHING

TREE-CLEARING

INTRODUCED PREDATORS

GLOBAL WARMING

Recommended reading

Adopt a koala

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Species we save

In-the-field

Why it matters

Rate of decline

Ecosystem benefits

Human interest

Why mammals?

Helping Save The World’s Iconic Species

National Threatened Species Day

Threats

FIRE

ILLEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE AND POACHING

TREE-CLEARING

INTRODUCED PREDATORS

GLOBAL WARMING

Recommended reading

Adopt a koala

End animal extinction

Make a donation

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