In 1770, Captain James Cook first saw the east coast of Australia and was amazed at the variety of wildlife found. Just a couple of centuries later, Australia is facing the extinction of many different types of animals not found anywhere else on the planet. It is amazing what just a couple of hundred years can do, but the thing to remember is that even though it has got this far, something can still be done to help protect the animals that are facing extinction all over Australia.

Australia is Diverse

One of the most amazing things about Australia to the Westerners when they first arrived was the diversity of life on the island. Flora and fauna unseen before existed all over the island. Over the years, a couple things had the biggest effect on the disappearance of so many animals.

• Loss of Habitat – This is one of the main reasons that so many animals have become extinct over the years. As people began to settle across Australia, they began to upset the balance of the natural world.

• Invasive Species – In addition to losing land, animals and plants in Australia have had to deal with an influx of other species – large and small. This has had a large effect on the animal population over the years.

Both of these reasons are man-made, really. These events were set in motion by Westerners arriving in Australia.

Hidden Species Disappearing Too

While the numbers of known rare animals and those that are facing extinction is high, there is a good chance there are some species that haven’t been discovered yet that are in danger. Biodiversity is important for the ecosystem as a whole. And the more healthy the ecosystem is, the better quality of life we as Aussies can expect. Helping to save animals that are facing extinction because of a love of animals is noble, but when it comes down to it, saving the ecosystem and the Australian way of life is even more crucial.

What You Can do About Extinction of Australian Animals

• Donate to FAME – The Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species is an important player in the battle to save the Tasmanian devil and many other animals (including fish) that are facing extinction in Australia.

• Leave a Donation in Your Will – If you’d rather wait until after you’re gone to do something to help, adding something in your last will and testament to donate some of your estate to one or more organisations that work to save wildlife in Australia is a good idea.