Australia is home to some weird and wonderful creatures which are not found in any other part of the world, for this reason Australians try their hardest to protect these animals. Unfortunately logging, land development, humans and natural disasters are threatening many of these species.
In Febuary 2009 there was the Black Saturday Bush Fires in Victoria, this not only destroyed human lives but it devastated the native wildlife and it’s habitat. The Koala, Echidna and Wombats where some of the hardest hit. These three animals are already on the endangered species list and with fires such as these as well as other man made risks such as commercial and residential development, machines and motor vehicles, this came as a huge blow for these already struggling species.
Koala’s have became an Australian trade mark, cute and cuddly they are often thought of as Koala Bears although they are not. Koalas are marsupials, meaning that their young are born prematurely and carried in the safety of the mothers pouch. They live on Eucalyptus Leaves and live high up in the tree tops of the Gum Tree’s in both North and South of Australia. The main threats for koalas are loss of habitat, cars, fires.
Echidnas and Wombats have similar threats all though they are bottom dwellers living in burrows in Australia’s bush land, they are under constant threats from humans, loss of habitat, fires and car accidents. If you find a sick or injured animal it is important to contact the local wildlife group or authority. Always check a dead animals pouch for any young, if you find someone still in there it will need immediate medical attention and will need to brought to either the local wildlife authority, RSPCA or wildlife sanctuary.
The famous Tasmanian Tiger another of Australia’s endangered species was last seen in 1936 and officially declared extinct in 1986. The reasons for this species dropping numbers was indeed humans, farmers and loss of habitat. Now Australian’s have found that the Tasmanian Devil could be facing the same fate, not only do they have the real threats of humans, habitat loss and natural disasters to contend with. The Tasmanian Devil has also come into threat from a facial tumor disease. This disease is fatal and with no current cure, could mean the end of another Australian species.
With more and more Australian Wildlife making the endangered species list each year, it is time for Australians and Australian Tourists to start protecting those who can not protect them selves.
