06/09/2025
September 7 is Threatened Species Day. It was on this date back in 1936 that the last known living Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) died at Hobart Zoo and saw the species slip into extinction.
It's a time to reflect on all the species that we have lost, but also to look ahead and to work together to protect the ones that remain now and into the future.
Australia is home to over half a million plant and animal species, with many being incredibly unique and found nowhere else in the world. Sadly more than 100 plant and animal species have become extinct in the past 200 years with Australia having the worst mammal extinction rate in the world, with 34 species becoming extinct out of 85 species worldwide in the past 200 years.
In NSW we have around 1000 plant and animal species at risk of extinction, and close to 400 of those can be found in the North coast region between Nelson Bay to Byron Bay.
Whilst some are very familiar to us such as our Koalas, Red tailed Black Cockatoos, White Bellied Sea Eagles, Spotted Tailed Quolls and Green & Golden Bell frogs, there are so many unique species in our region that many of us may be unaware of. Species such as the endangered Hastings River Mouse, the endangered Manning River Helmeted Turtle, and the critically endangered Bellinger River Snapping Turtle are just a few of the incredibly unique and threatened species that call Mid North Coast and the Northern Tablelands of NSW home.
The day is also a day to celebrate the outstanding conservationists, researchers, volunteers, and community experts that work tirelessly to save our native plants, animals, and ecosystems.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in helping our threatened species, from volunteering with local community groups, getting involved in citizen science projects and activities, learning about our local threatened species, etc.
Something as simple as starting a conversation about our unique plants and animals in our area can create positive steps and goals in our community.
You can find out more about our threatened species, along with educational resources and more at www.environment.nsw.gov.au.
Threatened Species Commissioner Manning River Turtle Group Manning River Turtle Conservation Bell's Turtles - Turtles Forever Project
