
Image © Commonwealth of Australia (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority)
We’ve all heard about the plight of the panda and the battle to save the black rhinoceros – but what about the endangered animals that live in the Mackay & Whitsundays?
This month, Reef Catchments has launched a new tool to help put the spotlight on animal and plant species that need looking after in the Mackay and Whitsunday region.
From the Little tern and Beach stone curlew to the Proserpine rock wallaby, our region has a huge diversity of native flora and fauna, much of which is at risk or endangered.
“Many people don’t realise the Mackay Whitsundays region is home to many species that are unique to our region. By making people aware of these species and the threats they face we can better understand how we can help look after them” said Kerensa McCallie, Reef Catchments Senior Project Officer for Biodiversity.
“We are lucky to have a very high level of biodiversity in our backyard. Unfortunately urban and agricultural development, introduced plants and animals and other threats have had major impacts on our region’s native plants, animals and ecosystems, some of which are now listed as threatened species.
“To help address this, Reef Catchments has designed a new online tool that will help us learn more about these unique species, and the steps we should take to ensure their survival.”
The Online Species Profiles assist to identify the conservation issues for local species and what we can do to protect them.
“Simple things like avoiding nesting seabird colonies, keeping dogs under control and removing invasive plants from our yards can make a big difference,” Kerensa McCallie said.
Try the Species Profile online tool today at: https://reefcatchments.com.au/species-ecosystem-profiles