“It is a curious feature of our existence that we come from a planet that is very good at promoting life but even better at extinguishing it.”
—Bill Bryson
Australia has the highest extinction rate for mammals in the world. More than 100 extinctions of endemic species since the European settlement in January of 1788 when 850 convicts and their Marine guards and officers arrived at Botany Bay in the “First Fleet”.
“Endemic” refers to that only live in one isolated part of the world like Australia. Furthermore, these types of animals are most commonly found in more isolated parts of the globe, like islands, but they can be found in other places too.
Some species that have been around and well for thousands of centuries are now gone like the Tasmanian tiger. For a full list of Australian animals that are extinct, please read What Australian animals are extinct?
Other animals are not extinct, however, they are close to extinction. The following 10 animals are at risk of despairing forever:
- Numbat
- Gouldian finch
- Mountain pygmy possum
- Regent honeyeater
- Orange bellied parrot
- Eastern quoll
- Woylie
- Eastern curlew
- Black flanked rock wallaby
- Purple crowned fairy wren
Let’s go one by one:
- Numbat
2. Gouldian finch
3. Mountain pygmy possum
4. Regent honeyeater
5. Orange bellied parrot
6. Eastern quoll
7. Woylie
8. Eastern curlew
9. Black flanked rock wallaby
10. Purple crowned fairy wren
Several important projects around Australia are protecting these endangered animals. So, this is a great opportunity for all of us to work together.