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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.

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