15 of the Most Threatened Animals in Australia
What’s Pushing Them to the Brink?
Black-flanked Rock-wallaby | Photo by Samantha Haebich
When you think of the Animals in Australia, chances are you picture kangaroos, koalas, or maybe a wombat waddling through eucalyptus forests. But behind these iconic images lies a sobering truth: Australia has one of the highest extinction rates in the world. From arid deserts to tropical reefs, this biodiverse continent is also home to hundreds of endangered animals teetering on the edge of extinction, like the Bramble Cay Melomys which is one of the animals that went extinct recently, officially declared extinct in 2019 from Bramble Cay, a small coral cay in Australia’s Torres Strait.
In this article, we dive deep into the most threatened animals in Australia, the biggest risks they face, and what’s being done to protect them. Whether you’re a conservationist, traveler, or simply curious about Australia’s wildlife, this guide brings clarity to a critical issue.
Why Is Biodiversity in Australia So Unique?
Australia’s isolation for over 30 million years has created a natural laboratory for evolution. More than 80% of the continent’s mammals, reptiles, and flowering plants are native species found nowhere else on Earth. But this uniqueness also makes them incredibly vulnerable.
What Defines a Species as Threatened in Australia?
Under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), species are classified into categories like:
Critically Endangered
Endangered
Vulnerable
Extinct in the Wild
These classifications are based on factors like population decline, habitat size, and known threats.
What Is the Most Threatened Species in Australia?
While many species are at risk, the Leadbeater's Possum is often cited as Australia’s most threatened mammal. It relies heavily on old-growth mountain ash forests in Victoria, most of which have been logged or burned.
Top 10 Most Threatened Animals in Australia
Let’s break down some of the most critically endangered species currently listed:
1. Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)
Once found throughout Queensland and New South Wales, the northern hairy-nosed wombat is now one of the rarest land mammals in the world. There are currently two naturally occurring populations left in the southwestern region of Western Australia. As of 2023, fewer than 315 individuals remain, all within a protected enclosure in Epping Forest National Park, Queensland. This species is critically endangered due to past habitat loss, competition with livestock for food, and predation by wild dogs. Conservation efforts include predator-proof fencing, habitat restoration, and supplementary feeding programs.
Hairy nosed wombat | Getty Images
2. Leadbeater’s Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)
Endemic to Victoria’s Central Highlands, Leadbeater’s possum is a small, nocturnal marsupial that depends on old-growth mountain ash forests for nesting and feeding. Similarly, mountain pygmy possums face critical conservation challenges due to habitat loss and climate change. Logging and bushfires, particularly the devastating Black Saturday fires of 2009, have dramatically reduced their habitat. It’s listed as critically endangered, and its fate has become emblematic of the tension between conservation and forestry in Australia. Conservation efforts include habitat corridors and the Great Forest National Park proposal.
Leadbeater’s Possum | Tirin CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
3. Western Swamp Tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina)
This small freshwater turtle is found only in seasonal swamps on the Swan Coastal Plain near Perth, Western Australia. Its habitat is highly sensitive to changes in hydrology and has been impacted by urban expansion, land clearing, and climate change. With fewer than 50 individuals in the wild during the early 1990s, it’s now critically endangered. Recovery efforts focus on habitat protection, captive breeding, and reintroduction into new wetland sites.
Bahudhara, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
4. Orange-Bellied Parrot (Neophema chrysogaster)
Australia’s birds are unique. This country is home to unique environments that has given rise to over 800 bird species, 45% of which are found nowhere else on Earth. One of only three migratory parrot species in the world, the orange-bellied parrot breeds in Tasmania and migrates to the southern mainland of Australia for winter. It’s critically endangered, with wild populations sometimes dipping below 50 individuals. Habitat loss along migratory routes, competition for nest sites, and disease are major threats. Intensive conservation programs include captive breeding, artificial nesting boxes, and habitat restoration.
Orange-Bellied Parrot | Getty Images
5. Eastern Curlew (Numenius madagascariensis)
This long-legged shorebird is the largest migratory shorebird in the world, traveling from breeding grounds in Russia and northeast Asia to Australia’s coastlines each year. The eastern curlew is listed as critically endangered in Australia, mainly due to habitat loss along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. Coastal development, wetland degradation, and pollution are the main threats. Conservation includes international cooperation, wetland protection, and awareness campaigns.
Eastern Curlew | Photo by John Carnemolla
6. Greater Glider (Petauroides volans)
Known for its large gliding membrane and big fluffy ears, the greater glider is native to eastern Australia’s forests. It’s listed as endangered due to habitat fragmentation from logging, land clearing, and climate change. These gliders rely on hollow-bearing trees for nesting and are particularly vulnerable to bushfires. Conservation priorities include preserving old-growth forests and implementing fire management strategies.
Samrhorton, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
7. Western Ground Parrot (Pezoporus flaviventris)
This elusive and highly cryptic parrot is endemic to coastal heathlands in southwestern Western Australia. With fewer than 150 individuals thought to remain in the wild, it’s one of the most endangered birds in Australia. Major threats include habitat loss from bushfires and predation by feral cats. Conservation initiatives involve radio tracking, habitat management, and a captive breeding program at Perth Zoo.
Brent Barrett via Wikimedia Commons
8. Northern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi)
This strikingly colored black and yellow frog is found only in the alpine and subalpine regions of New South Wales and the ACT. It’s critically endangered, largely due to the spread of the chytrid fungus, which has decimated amphibian populations worldwide. Other threats include climate change and habitat degradation. Captive breeding and reintroduction projects aim to boost wild populations.
Northern Corroboree Frog | Photo by Ken Griffiths
9. Kangaroo Island Dunnart (Sminthopsis aitkeni)
A tiny marsupial found only on Kangaroo Island in South Australia (One of the best places in australia to see wildlife) the dunnart was already endangered before the 2019–2020 bushfires, which destroyed over 90% of its habitat. It’s now critically endangered, with fewer than 300 individuals estimated to survive. Ongoing conservation work involves feral cat control, predator-proof fencing, and intensive monitoring.
Kangaroo Island Dunnart, via Wikimedia Commons
10. Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae)
This vividly colored songbird, native to northern Australia’s savanna woodlands, has seen a dramatic decline due to habitat loss, altered fire regimes, and disease. Though once widespread, its fragmented populations are now considered near threatened. Conservation strategies include controlled burning, habitat restoration, and reducing grazing pressure from livestock.
Gouldian Finch | Getty Images
11. Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia)
Once common across southeastern Australia, the regent honeyeater is now critically endangered, with an estimated wild population of fewer than 250 individuals. This striking black-and-yellow songbird has seen its numbers plummet due to extensive habitat loss—particularly the clearing of box-ironbark forests and woodlands that it relies on for feeding and breeding. Compounding the problem is competition from more aggressive bird species and a worrying decline in genetic diversity. Conservation efforts include habitat restoration, nest protection, and a captive breeding program led by Taronga Zoo, which has successfully reintroduced individuals into the wild.
Regent Honeyeater | Photo by Ken Griffiths
12. Woylie (Bettongia penicillata)
Also known as the brush-tailed bettong, the woylie is a small, nocturnal marsupial once widespread across southern and western Australia. It plays a crucial ecological role as a “soil engineer,” digging and turning over large amounts of soil in search of fungi and tubers, which helps with seed dispersal and nutrient cycling. Sadly, its population has declined by over 90% in recent decades due to predation by introduced foxes and feral cats, as well as disease. Today, the species survives only in a few protected areas in Western Australia. Intensive predator control, translocation, and captive breeding programs are key to its recovery.
Woylie | Photo by Anasstasiya Bornstein
13. Black-flanked Rock-wallaby (Petrogale lateralis)
This agile, cliff-dwelling wallaby is native to rugged ranges in Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. Although some populations remain stable, others are listed as vulnerable or endangered due to habitat fragmentation, competition with feral herbivores, and predation by foxes and cats. The black-flanked rock-wallaby relies heavily on steep rocky outcrops for refuge, and even minor changes in land use or fire regimes can threaten its survival. Conservation programs have focused on predator exclusion fencing, population monitoring, and collaborative work with Traditional Owners to support habitat management.
Black-flanked Rock-wallaby | Photo by Samantha Haebich
14. Purple-crowned Fairy-wren (Malurus coronatus)
Found in the tropical savannah and riparian zones of northern Australia, this jewel-like bird is known for its vibrant purple crown and intricate social structure. The species is highly dependent on healthy, dense riverine vegetation, especially pandanus, for nesting. The northern subspecies remains relatively secure, but the western subspecies is considered endangered due to habitat degradation, cattle grazing, and altered fire regimes. Conservation efforts led by organisations like the Australian Wildlife Conservancy involve habitat fencing, fire management strategies, and partnerships with Indigenous rangers to protect and restore vital breeding areas.
Purple-crowned Fairy-wren | Graham Winterflood from Cairns, via Wikimedia Commons
15. Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)
The numbat, Western Australia’s charismatic state emblem, is a small, termite-eating marsupial once found across much of southern Australia. Now, it survives in just a handful of protected pockets due to extensive habitat loss and predation by introduced species like foxes and feral cats. Diurnal and highly specialized, numbats feed almost exclusively on termites—consuming up to 20,000 a day using their long sticky tongues. With fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild, the species is listed as endangered. Conservation efforts, led by organizations like Project Numbat and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, include predator-proof sanctuaries, habitat restoration, and community-led awareness programs to support recovery of this uniquely adapted marsupial.
Numbat | Photo by Andre Meyer
How Many Endangered Species Are There in Australia?
According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), over 1,900 plant and animal species are listed as threatened in Australia.
What Is the #1 Most Endangered Animal?
Globally, the Vaquita porpoise in Mexico is often cited. But in Australia, the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat holds the unfortunate title of being among the rarest and most endangered.
What’s the Biggest Threat to Australian Wildlife?
The threats are diverse, but the leading causes include:
Habitat Loss: Driven by agriculture, mining, logging, and urban expansion.
Invasive Species: Cats, foxes, and cane toads have devastated native popRegent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia)
Once common across southeastern Australia, the regent honeyeater is now critically endangered, with an estimated wild population of fewer than 250 individuals. This striking black-and-yellow songbird has seen its numbers plummet due to extensive habitat loss—particularly the clearing of box-ironbark forests and woodlands that it relies on for feeding and breeding. Compounding the problem is competition from more aggressive bird species and a worrying decline in genetic diversity. Conservation efforts include habitat restoration, nest protection, and a captive breeding program led by Taronga Zoo, which has successfully reintroduced individuals into the wild.ulations.Climate Change: Increased bushfires, droughts, and rising seas impact fragile ecosystems.
Bushfires: The 2019–2020 Black Summer fires affected over 3 billion animals.
Disease: Like the chytrid fungus impacting frogs or facial tumor disease in Tasmanian devils.
How Do Bushfires Impact Threatened Species?
Fire can devastate habitats, especially for species with small or fragmented populations. The 2020 bushfires, for example, pushed the Kangaroo Island dunnart closer to extinction.
Are Protected Animals in Australia Safe?
Not necessarily. While over 1,000 species are legally listed as protected animals in Australia, enforcement gaps and insufficient funding mean many are still declining.
Australia’s Protected Species and Conservation Legislation
Australia has several laws and agencies involved in wildlife conservation:
EPBC Act: Main federal legislation for threatened species.
State-Based Acts: Vary between regions but often complement federal law.
Protected Areas: Including national parks and Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs).
Conservation Success Stories
It’s not all doom and gloom. Some species have made comebacks due to targeted conservation efforts:
Eastern Barred Bandicoot: From extinct in the wild to reintroduced across Victoria.
Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby: Increasing numbers in certain predator-free sanctuaries.
What Is Being Done to Protect Australia’s Endangered Wildlife?
Key strategies include:
Predator-Free Fencing: Sanctuaries exclude cats and foxes.
Captive Breeding Programs: Boosting numbers for reintroduction.
Habitat Restoration: Replanting native vegetation.
Community Engagement: Indigenous rangers and citizen scientists contribute significantly. Conservation efforts for eastern quolls include monitoring by Traditional Owners to protect this unique marsupial and its environment.
Government Funding: Initiatives like the Threatened Species Strategy.
Endangered Marine Species in Australia
Australia’s ocean ecosystems are also under pressure. Notable species include:
Australian Sea Lion
Loggerhead Turtle
Grey Nurse Shark
Threats range from bycatch to marine pollution and habitat degradation.
Threatened Species in the Outback
The arid interior isn’t immune. Species like the Night Parrot and Greater Bilby have seen dramatic declines from habitat loss and introduced predators.
How Does Australia Compare Globally?
Australia is a biodiversity hotspot, but also a global extinction leader. Since European settlement, 39 mammal species have gone extinct—more than any other country.
Community Involvement and Education
Community involvement and education are pivotal in the conservation of threatened species in Australia. Engaging local communities and raising awareness about the importance of conservation can create a robust support network for ongoing efforts. Various initiatives can help achieve this goal:
Organizing community events and workshops to highlight the plight of threatened species and the importance of their habitats can foster a sense of responsibility and stewardship. Collaborating with local schools to develop educational programs focused on conservation and wildlife protection can instill these values in younger generations. Providing training and resources for community members to participate in conservation efforts, such as habitat restoration and species monitoring, empowers individuals to take direct action. Encouraging community-led conservation initiatives and supporting local conservation groups can lead to innovative and sustainable solutions.
By working together with local communities, we can build a stronger, more sustainable future for Australia’s unique wildlife. These grassroots efforts are essential in creating a widespread culture of conservation that benefits both the environment and the people who live in it.
International Cooperation
International cooperation is crucial in the conservation of threatened species, as many species migrate across national borders or are impacted by global environmental issues. Australia is a signatory to several international agreements, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). These agreements provide a framework for international cooperation on conservation efforts and facilitate the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and resources.
Collaborating with neighboring countries to protect shared species and habitats, such as the eastern quoll and the mountain pygmy possum, is a prime example of how international cooperation can yield positive results. Participating in global conservation initiatives, such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, helps assess and address the conservation status of threatened species on a global scale. Sharing knowledge and expertise with other countries to develop effective conservation strategies and management plans ensures that best practices are implemented worldwide.
By working together with other countries, we can address the global challenges facing threatened species and achieve better conservation outcomes. This collaborative approach is essential for the long-term survival of many species that depend on international efforts for their protection.
Future Directions
The conservation of threatened species in Australia requires a long-term commitment to protecting and restoring habitats, addressing the impacts of invasive species, and promoting sustainable land use practices. Future directions for conservation efforts should focus on several key areas:
Developing and implementing effective conservation plans for threatened species, such as the eastern quoll and the mountain pygmy possum, is essential. Expanding conservation efforts to protect marine species and habitats, such as coral reefs and marine turtles, will address the needs of both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Promoting sustainable land use practices, such as agroforestry and permaculture, can reduce the impacts of land clearing and habitat destruction, ensuring that human activities are in harmony with nature.
Supporting community-led conservation initiatives and providing resources for local conservation groups can lead to innovative and effective solutions. Continuing to monitor and assess the conservation status of threatened species, and adapting conservation efforts as needed to address emerging threats and challenges, will ensure that conservation strategies remain relevant and effective.
By working together and taking a long-term approach to conservation, we can protect Australia’s unique wildlife and preserve the natural beauty of our country for future generations. This holistic approach is crucial for the sustained success of conservation efforts and the protection of Australia’s irreplaceable biodiversity.
Can Tourists Help?
Absolutely. Ecotourism and ethical wildlife experiences raise funds and awareness. Choose operators that contribute to conservation and follow strict wildlife viewing guidelines.
How Can You Help Threatened Species in Australia?
Donate to organizations like Bush Heritage Australia or WWF-Australia.
Volunteer for citizen science projects or habitat restoration.
Advocate for strong environmental policies.
Reduce your footprint: Buy sustainable, avoid single-use plastics.
A Race Against Time
Australia's biodiversity is irreplaceable. The unique marsupials, birds, frogs, and reptiles that evolved here form a web of life unlike anywhere else on Earth. Protecting endangered wildlife in Australia isn't just a matter of national pride—it's a global responsibility.
With stronger policy, smarter conservation, and collective action, there is still hope for reversing the decline. But the time to act is now.
