National Threatened Species Day

Sunday the 7^th of September 2025

Overview

On the 7^th of September, 1936, the last known Thylacine (Tasmanian Tiger) died at Hobart Zoo. As of 1996, we mark the 7^th of September as “National Threatened Species Day”; a day to stop and reflect on species that we have lost, and may lose in the future. It is an important time to highlight Australian native plant and animal species, and the conservation efforts that are vital to ensuring our precious species’ continued existence.

Threatened Species Trail

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is lucky to house a number of different ambassador species on site whose wild counterparts are considered at risk.

For the week after National Threatened Species Day (Sunday the 7^th of September – Saturday the 13^th of September inclusive) the Lone Pine Map will be highlighting the following species to increase visibility around at risk species and encourage conservation action through increased guest engagement. These species have been selected as they are highlighted by the IUCN Red List and/or the Conservation Status of Queensland Wildlife Report as being “At Risk.” Species information is as follows:

Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

  Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Vulnerable. Population trend – decreasing.
• Queensland – Endangered.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• Wild koalas are heavily threatened by habitat loss, and the increase in risk of disease, car strike, and dog attack that are exacerbated by the pressures of decreasing habitat. In QLD, NSW and ACT in 2022 koalas were declared Endangered.
• Chlamydia in koalas is the top reason why they are brought into the care of a wildlife hospital in south-east Queensland. The strain of Chlamydia affecting koalas is not transferrable to humans.

Lone Pine

• Over 100 koalas live at Lone Pine. Most were born in human care and make up an “insurance population” – a population of “at risk” species kept, and bred, in human care to ensure their existence continues even if lost in the wild. Some have come from the wild with injuries/illnesses that make them unable to be re-released. Due to legislation, koalas born at Lone Pine will not be released into the wild.
• Koala Research | Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Call to Action

• Koala threats and how to help | Environment | Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Queensland

 

Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)

   Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Endangered. Population trend – decreasing.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• The greatest current threat to this endangered species is the Devil Facial Tumor Disease. This contagious cancer is a fatal disease which spreads easily from devil to devil through biting.

Lone Pine

• The Tasmanian Devils at Lone Pine come from the “Devil Ark” (now “Aussie Ark”) project. Aussie Ark is a not-for-profit preservation project aiming to breed disease-free Tasmanian devils on mainland Australia. Aussie Ark – Wildlife Conservation Charity – Donate Today

Call to Action

• Unfortunately, as Tasmanian Devils eat carrion, the are often drawn to road kill and unfortunately can be stuck by cars themselves. If driving through areas where wildlife is active, observe and follow all road rules and restrictions.
• Tasmanian Devil Roadkill Project | Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania

Long-nosed Potoroo (Potorous tridactylus)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Near Threatened. Population trend – decreasing.
• Queensland – Vulnerable.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• The Long-nosed Potoroo’s greatest threats are habitat loss and fragmentation and predation by foxes and feral and domestic cats. Further threats include inappropriate fire regimes, forestry activities, and habitat degradation due to livestock and feral herbivores.

Lone Pine

• Lone Pine is lucky enough to be home to a number of Long-nosed Potoroos. The best time to see these little critters when they’re active is at our Nocturnal Tours. Nocturnal Night Tours – Discover Your Sanctuary at Night

Call to Action

• Home | Safe Cat Safe Wildlife

Spectacled Flying Fox (Pteropus conspicullatus)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Endangered. Population trend – decreasing.
• Queensland – Endangered.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• Listed as one of 110 “priority species” in the Australian Government’s 2022-2032 Threatened Species Action Plan.

 

Grey-headed Flying Fox (Pteropus poliocephalus)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Vulnerable. Population trend – decreasing.
• Queensland – Least Concern.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• Grey-headed flying foxes are the only flying fox species that is endemic to Australia.

 

 

 

Flying Foxes at Lone Pine

• Lone Pine have partnered with Bat Rescue and Conservation QLD Inc and all donations made through the Containers for Change bins at Lone Pine go to supporting this organisation. Bat Conservation and Rescue QLD Inc – Non-profit organisation dedicated to preserving the population of flying foxes and microbats in Queensland through rescue, rehabilitation and education.

Flying Foxes Call to Action

• Threats including habitat destruction, colony dispersals and more frequent and severe weather events including heat waves and drought heavily threaten all Australian Flying Fox species.
• Threats – Bat Conservation and Rescue QLD Inc

Platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Near Threatened. Population trend – decreasing.
• Queensland – Special Least Concern.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• It is estimated that platypus habitat in Queensland has shrunk 27% over the last 30 years
• One of the biggest threats to platypuses is entanglement in rubbish. Circular rubbish, such as hair ties and the straps of face masks pose a particularly devastating threat.

Lone Pine

• Barak (easily identifiable by pink pigmentation on his bill and feet) is the oldest male platypus in human care, having hatched in 1998. His name comes from Indigenous activist “William Barak” who was leader of “Corranderrk” – an Indigenous reserve located where Healesville Sanctuary stands today (where both Platypuses were hatched). Barak often likes to sleep in so sometimes cannot be spotted in the tank.

Call to Action

• Report a Sighting | Wildlife Queensland

Short-beaked Echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Least Concern. Population trend – stable.
• Queensland – Near Threatened.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• Habitat destruction due to land clearing limits echidnas’ ability to forage, breed and thermo-regulate. Echidnas can also be killed by cars as they wander along roadsides.

Lone Pine

• In 2024 our vet took part in care and rehabilitation of a juvenile echidna. You can learn more about this little one on our Instagram here.

Call to Action

• Report a Sighting | Wildlife Queensland

 

Broad-headed Snake (Hoplocephalus bungaroides)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Vulnerable. Population trend – unknown.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• Only found in sandstone habitats in the Sydney area (around a 250km radius).
• Listed as Endangered in New South Wales – under threat due to loss of habitat from increasing urbanization, as well as the removal of bush rock for landscaping purposes. When bush rock is removed, so are this snake’s sheltering and foraging sites, as well as habitat for their prey items.

Lone Pine

• Lone Pine has one beautiful Broad-headed on display, who is thought to be female.

Call to Action

• Bushrock belongs in the bush – not in gardens

Merten’s Water Monitor (Varanus mertensi)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Endangered. Population trend – decreasing.
• Queensland – Endangered.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• Highly susceptible to introduced cane toad toxin and unfortunately consuming just one adult cane toad could kill them.

Lone Pine

• Lone Pine had two Water Monitors on display. They particularly enjoy climbing in the tree within their exhibit, as well as swimming in their pool in the warmer months.

Call to Action

• What you can do in your own backyard to help minimise the spread of cane toads – ABC News

Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Endangered. Population trend – unknown.
• Queensland – Endangered.

What’s happening in Wild?

• Endemic to the Mary River in south-east Queensland.
• First described in 1994, this species had been taken from the wild for years to be sold in pet shops as a “penny turtle”.

Lone Pine

• Lone Pine is lucky enough to house multiple Mary River Turtles, some of which have been trained to be able to meet school groups to assist in education around Endangered Species.

Call to Action

• Mary River turtle is now critically endangered, needs your help to survive | Sunshine Coast Council

Princess Parrot (Polytelis alexandrae)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Near Threatened. Population trend – stable.
• Queensland – Least Concern.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• Listed as one of 110 “priority species” in the Australian Government’s 2022-2032 Threatened Species Action Plan.
• Opportunistic breeders, with pairs choosing to nest when food is plentiful – with changing climate conditions, food availability is also changing, which effects breeding behaviour in this species.
• This species, among many other native Australian parrots, is dependent on tree hollows for nesting. Tree hollows suitable for a bird the Princess Parrot’s size can take over 100 years to form, so clearing of old growth forests can have a devastating effect.

Lone Pine

• Lone Pine is currently home to two beautiful Princess Parrots, Percival and Finke. Unfortunately both are male so no chicks for us at this stage, but they make wonderful ambassadors for their species.

Call to Action

• Natural tree hollows factsheet (PDF – 331KB)

Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Least Concern. Population trend – decreasing.
• Queensland – Endangered.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• This endangered bird distributes over 200 species of seeds in it’s droppings as it travels through the forest, making it incredibly important for ecosystem regeneration.
• Clearing of rainforests has had a major impact on this species. The fragmentation that occurs when habitat is destroyed causes the cassowary to travel further for food, increasing the risk of car strikes and altercations with humans and domesticated animals.
• Natural disasters, such as cyclones and floods, that we see occurring more frequently due to climate change have also had an adverse effect on this species.

Lone Pine

• Lone Pine is currently home to one beautiful female Cassowary, Chicky. She was hatched in 1996, so is coming up to her 30^th The opportunity to see this incredible species in person makes her a  wonderful ambassador for her wild counterparts.

Call to Action

• Make An Impact

Pink Cockatoo (Lophochroa leadbeateri)

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List Classification – Least Concern. Population trend – stable.
• Queensland – Endangered.

What’s happening in the Wild?

• Threats in the wild include loss of nesting sites due to forestry of hollow-bearing trees.
• Unfortunately, due to it’s beautiful plumage and engaging personality, this species, amongst other native Australian parrots, can draw the attention of the illegal wildlife trade.

Lone Pine

• Lone Pine is home to a pair of Pink Cockatoos but unfortunately they haven’t bonded to the point where they will breed. Penelope, the female, is in her 30s.

Call to Action

• Wildlife trade and the law – DCCEEW