Date : September 4, 2019
Want to know the facts about endangered animals? Keen to ensure that your children have a healthy respect for the natural world? Want to instill the virtues of preservation and sustainability in your household? May Gibbs was an advocate for the protection of flora and fauna, with her stories and illustrations celebrating our unique natural world. She was even made a lifetime member of the RSPCA for her commitment to the protection of animals!
Read on for a fact sheet that will help your children understand both the dangers faced by animals in our environment as well as how they can do their bit to help protect our wildlife.
How do we classify endangered animals?
Animals become endangered when we can determine that they are threatened by the intervention of human factors. This might mean development, pollution or any other of a number of elements that can leave animals fighting for their little lives.
Endangered animals are classified as critically endangered if they are under very real danger of becoming extinct.
What are the Australian endangered animals?
There are a number of animals, amphibians, reptiles and birds that are currently classified as critically endangered or endangered. Today, nearly 1 in 3 of our unique mammals is at risk of extinction!
These numbers grow every day. At time of writing, this number sat at close to 300. Here are but a few of the species currently identified as endangered:
• The Eastern Curlew (critically endangered) 
• The Black-flanked Rock-wallaby (endangered)
• The Gouldian Finch (endangered)
• The Northern Quoll (endangered)
• The Black-footed Tree-rat (endangered)
• The Southern Corroborre Frog (critically endangered)
• The Margaret River burrowing crayfish (critically endangered)
• The Lord Howe Island phasmid (critically endangered)
• The Bornemissza’s stag beetle (critically endangered)
• The Derwent River sea star (critically endangered)
• Southern bent-wing bat (critically endangered)
• Orange-bellied parrot (critically endangered)
(Find out more about some of the species above here)
A complete list of threatened species would run for pages and pages. There are so many species that are facing extinction. It’s time to get the next generation motivated about protecting them!
How can little learners help endangered animals?
Work with your children to help them understand the importance of preserving our natural habitats and wildlife. Ensure that your household follows sustainable practices when it comes to recycling, protection of natural features and the size of your carbon footprint. Join local wildlife groups, go on bush walks and investigate your own backyard.
There is a lot that children can learn from the study of endangered animals. As we raise the conservationists of tomorrow, we must teach them about the importance of protecting our precious wildlife so that we can continue to enjoy them for generations to come.
Reading books about the Australian landscape can help encourage learning. Find out more here.
Miss Louise
Miss Louise is a qualified teacher and here to help educators and teachers bring the magic of May Gibbs works to life for young minds
