Australia is home to more than 500,000 animal and plant species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. Over the last 200 years, more than 100 animal and plant species have become extinct.
In New South Wales alone there are close to 1,000 animal and plant species at risk of extinction.
Threatened Species Day is when we turn the spotlight on native plants, animals, and ecosystems that are under threat and reflect on how we can protect them now and into the future.
The day also celebrates the amazing work that is being done to save them by passionate conservationists, researchers, volunteers, and community experts.
Threatened Species Day events and activities
Take action
There are plenty of ways to get involved in threatened species conservation:
- Through the SEED Citizen Science Hub, you can safely explore environmental projects, connect with like-minded people and stay up to date with the latest citizen science projects and events.
- Most of our volunteering opportunities are on hold for now, but you can still register your interest for many projects online through our volunteer portal.
- Tune into our live brush-tailed rock-wallaby cam and let us know what you see.
- Read about other ways you can help animals from home, including colouring-in activities, taking personality quizzes, and planting trees for our threatened wildlife.
- Subscribe to the Saving our Species newsletter.
Transform yourself into a threatened species
Ever wondered what you would look like as a glossy black-cockatoo or mountain pygmy-possum? Well, now you can turn that wonder into a reality.
Saving our Species is working to secure a future for our NSW threatened plants and animals. But we want more people to share in their beauty and help them become household names, too.
To mark Threatened Species Day and Biodiversity Month, we’ve launched hundreds of augmented reality (AR) filters, games and stickers on Instagram and Facebook for you to explore.
You might see people on social media use filters for animals like tigers and dogs, but we want people to raise the profile and share the love for our native plants and animals.
It’s easy to get involved: simply open the Instagram or Facebook app and search for ‘Saving our Species’ to find our stickers and filters, or head to @NSWDPE.
How is Saving our Species helping
Watch videos and read the Saving our Species blog to learn about our projects and how they are helping NSW threatened plants and animals.
About Threatened Species Day
Threatened Species Day was declared in 1996 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the death of the last remaining Tasmanian tiger (also known as the thylacine) at Hobart Zoo in 1936.
Threatened Species Day is a time to reflect on what happened in the past and how similar fates to the thylacine could await other native plants and animals unless appropriate action is taken.
Watch film clips of thylacines in captivity that include the last film footage of the species.
Why are threatened species important?
Saving threatened species is important for a healthy and diverse environment. Once plants and animals become extinct they are gone forever.
Today most species become threatened because of habitat destruction and the invasion of non-native species. With effective management almost all threatened species can be protected.
Learn more about how and why the Saving our Species program is working to secure a future for our threatened plants and animals in the wild.
Why promote threatened species?
Helping people understand the problems that cause plants and animals to become extinct can help us to effectively manage threatened species in New South Wales. Being aware of how our actions can increase the risk of species loss and curbing these activities will support conservation efforts to prevent species becoming extinct in the wild.
We encourage everyone, whether you are a scientist, an artist, a business person, a sportsperson, an educator, work for local government or just love plants and animals, to do something to celebrate National Threatened Species Day and our unique threatened wildlife.
How can you help threatened species?
No matter what your age or expertise, you can get involved with conservation programs and help the recovery of threatened animals and plants. Learn more about how you, your school or community can get involved.
