National Threatened Species Day 2016

national threatened species day

September 7th is National Threatened Species day. We’ll be acknowledging it in our parks by educating guests on the different threatened species that call our parks home, and encouraging our visitors to do what they can to help boost these numbers in the future.

Quincy the quoll, our newest addition the park, is one such threatened species. Numbers of wild quolls have dwindled due to predators such as foxes and cats. Quolls are also known to try and eat cane toads, which release a poison that ultimately will kill the quoll.

There is research being undertaken to try and boost numbers of wild quolls, but there are little things you can do at home – for more info, visit the Department of Environment & Heritage Protection website.

History of National Threatened Species Day

On the night of 7 September 1936, the last Tasmanian tiger died in Hobart Zoo. With the death of this animal the thylacine species became extinct.

In 1996, on the sixtieth anniversary of the last Tasmanian tiger’s death, 7 September was declared ‘National Threatened Species Day’ — a time to reflect on what happened to the thylacine and how similar fates could await other native plants and animals unless appropriate action is taken.

National Threatened Species Day highlights the past and how we can protect Queensland’s threatened plants and animals into the future, while also celebrating species success stories and ongoing threatened species recovery work.

Thanks to Department of Environment & Heritage Protection for this information.