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Wildlife
When we talk about wildlife we’re talking about all of the mammals, birds, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, insects, crustaceans, sponges, jellyfish and bacteria: we’re talking about all the walking, flying, hopping, swimming, slithering and squirming creatures that make up the wonderful mix of creatures that we share our planet with.
Can you even begin to imagine if they weren’t here with us, if we had only human companions on our planet?
MYTH
Our wildlife can look after itself and will continue to survive with or without our help. It’s been around for longer than us and will be around long after we’re gone. Our earth is so big we cannot possible upset nature’s balance.
FACT
Our wildlife is in serious strife. Our wildlife is loosing habitats, their water and food sources are being destroyed, and the very systems that they depend upon for life are being damaged - all due to human activities.
In Australia we are blessed with some truly amazing examples of wildlife. With 45% of our birds, 83% of our mammals, 89% of our reptiles, 90% of our fish and insects and 93% of our amphibians are found nowhere else on earth. They are unique to Australia. Sadly, around 20% of these species face extinction. Some 54 species have become extinct since European settlement in Australia.
Wildlife is a fundamental part of our biodiversity. Biodiversity is the spice of life that makes everything work. It is the variety of plants, animals, insects and micro-organisms on earth. It is all their genes too, and the web of life that they make up.
Why should we care about biodiversity? There is a selfish reason: we need it to survive. We need biodiversity for our health, well-being and quality of life. We rely on biodiversity for clean water and clean air. The food we eat, the energy that powers our homes, the medicines that fix us when we are crook, the homes we live in and the clothes that keep us warm all come from our earth’s biodiversity.
Despite what you may have read, nature does not exist merely for our pleasure. Aside from the benefits we gain, biodiversity has intrinsic value that deserves our respect. As mentioned earlier life would be very boring if there were just humans around, so boring in fact that we would cease to exist.
'If all the insects on earth disappeared, within 50 years all life on earth would disappear. If all humans disappeared within 50 years all species would flourish as never before.' - Jonas Sulk, discoverer of the Polio Vaccine.
ARTICLES
Save our Sea Turtles!
February 17th, 2010
The Australian Marine Conservation Society is launching a campaign to save our sea turtles. Australia is the one of the few countries in the world that has six of the world's seven species of sea turtle. But incredibly, our very own global haven for sea turtles is under threat and our sea turtles are in danger.
Bush Blitz
February 16th, 2010
Bush Blitz is Australia’s largest nature discovery project - a three-year multimillion dollar partnership to document the plants and animals in hundreds of properties across Australia’s National Reserve System.
Great White Sharks
February 15th, 2010
Aaah, summer: the heat warms your frigid winter toes, the sun finally reaches your glowing white legs, your woollies and thermals bid a hasty retreat to the back of the wardrobe, and the air on those blissful, warm summer nights smell like the ocean.
2010 - The International Year of Biodiversity
January 27th, 2010
The UN has declared 2010 the International Year of Biodiversity. The key aim for the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) during this year will be to influence the decisions and outcomes of the October Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties.
Ecosystems Strain To Keep Pace With Climate Change
January 11th, 2010
From beetles to barnacles, pikas to pine warblers, many species are already on the move in response to shifting climate regimes. But how fast will they - and their habitats - have to move to keep pace with global climate change over the next century?
Species and Climate Change
December 18th, 2009
The Arctic Fox, Leatherback Turtle and Koala are among the species destined to be hardest hit by climate change, according to a new IUCN review.
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Quik Quiz
