Lexi Webster
Australia is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, but this unique natural legacy is under threat. Since European colonisation in 1788, Australia has lost at least 100 endemic plant and animal species to extinction, with the actual number likely much higher. This makes Australia's mammal extinction rate the highest in the world. The main causes of species extinction in Australia include unsustainable human activity, predation by feral animals, habitat destruction, disease, and climate change. Without effective conservation efforts, more species are at risk of disappearing forever.
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What You'll Learn
Australia has the highest mammal extinction rate globally
Australia is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, unlike anything found anywhere else in the world. However, this unique biodiversity is at risk of further loss. Since the colonisation of Australia by Europeans in 1788, 100 endemic Australian species have become extinct. This includes 40 native mammal species and possibly seven subspecies. This makes Australia the global leader in mammal extinctions per capita.
The causes of Australia's high extinction rate are varied. Feral animals and invasive species are a major problem. Cats, foxes, and dingoes prey on native species, especially ground-dwellers within the "critical weight range" of 35 grams to 5.5 kilograms. Habitat destruction is another significant factor, with activities such as over-grazing, urban development, and wildfires contributing to the loss of natural habitats.
Climate change is also a contributing factor. For example, the Eastern Quoll, a spotted carnivorous marsupial, is susceptible to cane toad toxins, which are becoming more prevalent as the climate warms. Additionally, the Orange-bellied Parrot, a migratory ground-dwelling parrot, is threatened by habitat loss and degradation in its non-breeding range.
Human activity has played a significant role in Australia's high extinction rate. Introduced predators and unsustainable land practices have eroded the country's biodiversity. Additionally, the Australian government has been criticised for not properly considering environmental advice and not allocating enough resources to biodiversity conservation.
The extinction of Australian species is not just a historical tragedy; it continues to occur. Without substantial and rapid change, more species will be lost. However, there is hope. When there is investment in conservation efforts, species can recover. For example, the Numbat, a small to medium-sized marsupial, has benefited from reintroduced populations in protected reserves, and its numbers are increasing.
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Invasive species are the main cause of extinctions
Australia has the highest mammal extinction rate in the world, with at least 33 native mammal species becoming extinct since colonisation. The country's unique biodiversity, shaped over millions of years in isolation, is vulnerable to outside forces. Since 2009, invasive species have been the leading cause of four out of five animal extinctions in Australia.
Invasive species are consistently identified as the most significant threat to Australian fauna and a primary cause of extinction. The management of invasive species is a notable economic burden, costing billions in weed control and lost agricultural production. Introduced flora and fauna can have negative impacts, but some researchers argue that there may be positive ecological benefits to native ecosystems. For example, mega-herbivores such as feral camels may fill lost ecological niches of extinct Australian megafauna, reducing the risk of wildfires. However, feral horses are destroying alpine ecosystems and streams, causing the decline and extinction of native animals.
The most commonly cited invasive species threatening Australian wildlife is the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), which affects 21% of EPBC Act-listed species. Rabbits compete with native animals for food and prevent the regeneration of seedlings. The decline and extinction of many mammal species, particularly in arid and semi-arid zones, have been attributed to the impacts of rabbits. Feral cats, pigs, and goats are also cited as threatening over 100 threatened species each. Cats have an ambush mode of hunting that leaves smaller animals vulnerable to their attacks.
Diseases, fungi, and parasites can also affect the health of native plant and animal species, reducing their ability to reproduce or survive. For example, the Chytrid fungus is threatening numerous Australian frog species with extinction. The introduction of exotic diseases through imported produce is a potential risk, as seen with the mass pilchard deaths in the Southern Ocean suspected to have been caused by a virus.
Human activity, such as unsustainable land use, and climate change, has also contributed to extinctions in Australia. The Australian government has listed additional species as extinct under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), highlighting the ongoing loss of Australia's unique biodiversity.
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The Australian government's response to the crisis
Australia is home to a wide array of flora and fauna, unlike anything found anywhere else in the world. However, this unique biodiversity is at risk of being lost due to human activity and unsustainable practices. Since European settlement, hundreds of species have become extinct in Australia, with the country now holding the highest mammal extinction rate in the world.
In response to this crisis, the Australian government has taken several measures to strengthen environmental standards and protect its native species. In 2021, the government listed an additional 13 species as extinct under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), bringing the total number of extinct endemic species since European colonisation in 1788 to 100. This Act has since been criticised by the WWF-Australia and other environmental groups for not being robust enough to protect Australia's nature.
In 2022, the federal government announced a plan to halt the extinction crisis and save 110 species. This plan includes targets to improve the trajectory of priority species, protect habitats, address invasive species, and tackle climate change. The government has also set a goal to prevent any new extinctions of Australian wildlife, aiming to protect an additional 50 million hectares of land and sea areas by 2027.
Despite these efforts, some critics argue that the government's plan lacks urgency and fails to address key issues such as the impact of climate change and the need for increased funding for conservation. Furthermore, with over 1,900 listed threatened species in Australia, there are concerns that the plan does not adequately address the needs of non-priority species.
To address these concerns, the government has introduced Nature Positive Bills aimed at protecting the environment. However, these bills have been criticised for not going far enough, and there are calls for the Senate to strengthen the legislation to effectively protect Australia's fragile environment and threatened wildlife.
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The impact of European colonisation on extinctions
Australia has the highest mammal extinction rate in the world. Since the colonisation of Australia by Europeans in 1788, 100 endemic species have become extinct or extinct in the wild. This includes 38 plants, 34 mammals, 10 invertebrates, 9 birds, 4 frogs, 3 reptiles, 1 fish, and 1 protist. The actual number of extinctions is likely to be far more than those on the formal lists.
The main causes of extinctions have varied among taxonomic groups. Mammal extinctions have been caused mainly by introduced predators such as cats and foxes, plants by habitat loss, frogs by disease, and reptiles by an introduced snake (to Christmas Island). Climate change has also contributed to extinctions, such as in the case of the Bramble Cay melomys. Invasive species have been the main driver of extinctions in recent times, causing 73% of losses since 1960.
The Australian government has been criticised for presiding over an "accelerating and disastrous extinction crisis" and slashing funding for the environment department. However, the government has also taken some steps to address the issue, such as providing funding for projects to support threatened species and introducing new predator-free safe havens.
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Conservation efforts to protect threatened species
Australia is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, unlike anything found anywhere else in the world. However, the country has the highest mammal extinction rate globally, with nearly one in three of its unique mammals at risk of extinction. Since European settlement and the introduction of predators, hundreds of species have become extinct in Australia.
Several organisations are working to protect and conserve Australia's threatened species. The WWF-Australia is working to save the Bass Strait Island wombat by partnering with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre to reintroduce the species to lungtalanana, an Indigenous-owned island in the Bass Strait. They are also working to reduce the threats to the Black-footed rock-wallaby, wiliji, and supporting conservation efforts to secure its habitat in southwest Western Australia. Additionally, they are working with Indigenous ranger groups in the Northern Kimberley region to identify the biodiversity benefits of different burning regimes for the Brush-tailed phascogale.
The WWF-Australia's Regenerative Country program aims to protect and recover species and habitats, transform Australia from deforestation to reforestation, and work with communities to protect vital landscapes and species. They are also working on a climate adaptation project focused on understanding the feminisation of green turtles due to increasing sand temperatures.
The Nature Conservancy Australia is working to conserve the Orange-bellied Parrot, one of only three migratory parrot species in the world. They are restoring coastal wetlands in Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia, where the parrot spends autumn and winter.
The Martu people in the Western Desert are also being supported in their efforts to help the Black-flanked Rock-wallaby make a comeback, with a focus on increasing its population size and spread.
The Australian government has also recognised the importance of protecting threatened species. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) includes new categories for listed threatened species, such as critically endangered, conservation-dependent, and extinct in the wild. These additions help to strengthen the protection and conservation efforts for species at risk.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, many animals have become extinct in Australia. As of March 2021, the Australian government listed an additional 13 species as extinct, bringing the total number of endemic species declared as extinct since the colonisation of Australia by Europeans in 1788 to 100.
The Christmas Island forest skink is the first reptile known to have gone extinct in Australia since European colonisation. Other recently extinct animals include the desert bettong, broad-cheeked hopping mouse, and Nullarbor barred bandicoot.
The main causes of animal extinctions in Australia include introduced predators such as cats and foxes, habitat destruction, disease, and climate change. Invasive species have been identified as the overwhelming driver of Australia's animal extinction rate and are expected to cause 75 of the next 100 extinctions.
Efforts are being made to protect native animals and plants on Christmas Island and across the rest of Australia. The government has also mobilised funding for projects to support threatened species and ecological communities and is working on a 10-year threatened species strategy.
