SPECIES

Australia is home to some of the world’s most beautiful nature and iconic wildlife found anywhere on the planet. Together, we can Regenerate Nature and save our unique wildlife. The future of Australian species depends on trees – and your support today. Make a donation to help plant and protect trees and give our beloved native animals a future.

Australian Wildlife

Our wildlife is uniquely Australian.

We have towering eucalypt forests, home to animals, including koalas and greater gliders. Intricate river systems, where platypus hide. Rugged ranges and red earth, where wallabies bounce. And then there are our magnificent beaches and seascapes, where marine turtles nest, and whales make their annual migration.

Our geographical isolation means many of these animals and plants have evolved over time and are unique to Australia.

Sadly, more than 570 of our native animals are at risk of being lost forever. Habitat destruction, invasive predators, inappropriate fires and the increasing impacts of a changing climate are pushing many of our precious wildlife to the brink of extinction. We’ve already lost more than 60 of our unique species.

WWF-Australia is working in partnership with Traditional Owners, communities, organisations, businesses, and individuals to protect threatened wildlife, restore their habitats, and turn the tide on the extinction crisis. This work is only possible thanks to our incredible supporters.

Together, we can Regenerate Nature and save our unique wildlife.

Saving our wildlife

Here are some of the threatened wildlife we’re working to save in Australia and overseas.

Our boots on the ground

Here are some of the places we’re working in Australia and within the Asia-Pacific region to save endangered wildlife.
WWF-Australia - where we work
© WWF-Aus / Min Pin

Meet some more Australian wildlife

Australia has the worst mammal extinction rate in the world

Over thirty million years of geographical isolation have created animals and plants unique to Australia. However, this rich biological diversity has seriously declined since European settlement. Thirty-nine Australian mammals have become extinct over the past 200 years.

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. The main wildlife in danger of extinction or decline are those that fall in a critical weight range - 35 to 5,500 grams. Threatened animals in this range include woyliesnumbats, bandicoots, bilbiesquokkasquolls and rock-wallabies, which are particularly vulnerable to predators, including feral cats and foxes.

Threats

Our most vulnerable wildlife face a number of key threats.

What WWF is doing

Regenerative Country is our program to protect and recover species and habitats on Country. We aim to transform Australia from a deforestation to a reforestation nation and work with communities to protect and regenerate vital landscapes and species, both here and abroad. 

What you can do to help wildlife