Two western ringtail possums, an adult and a baby, sit together in the fork of a tree at night
WA Museum Boola Bardip

Endangered WA Animals Learning Resource
Learning Resource
Primary/Secondary
Primary
Secondary
Curriculum
Science
HASS
Digital technologies
Year Level
Year 3 - 10

Why should we care? Because they need us to!

Extinction is hard to see as it happens gradually over time. While it may seem unimportant if we lose a few species from the estimated 9 million species we share the planet with, is it okay that they should be lost in the first place?

Humans are just one of these 9 million species but one which has a huge impact on the lives and continued survival of other species. If we have contributed to species decline shouldn’t we at least do as much as we can to prevent further losses, no matter how small the action?

Western Australia is home to amazing and unique species, many of which are found nowhere else on the planet-kind of like global superstars! It’s really no secret that many of these species close to home desperately need our help if they are going to survive.

Will you spend a few minutes investigating these icons to understand why they need our help and why you should care?

Download the Endangered WA Animals Educational Resource here

A close up on the head and shoulders of a small green night Parrot bird which is decorated with vividly coloured green and yellow feathers with brown accents. It opens its beak slightly as if it's alive and stares at the camera with a deep brown eye

Night Parrot

Manyjilyjarra Name: Ngarrijirri
Scientific Name: Pezoporus occidentalis
Common Name: Night Parrot

Conservation status: Critically Endangered. This means a species has an extremely high chance of dying out or becoming extinct in the future.

A western ground parrot sitting on some fallen leaves in daytime

Western Ground Parrot

Nyoongar Name: Kyorling

Scientific Name: Pezoporus flaviventris

Common Name: Western Ground Parrot

Conservation status: Critically Endangered. This means a species has an extremely high chance of dying out or becoming extinct in the future.

A woylie sitting on the ground eating at night

Woylie

Nyoongar Name: Woylie

Scientific Name: Bettongia penicillata

Common Name: Woylie or Brush-tailed Bettong

Conservation status: Critically Endangered: Means a species has an extremely high chance of dying out or becoming extinct in the future.

A western swamp tortoise standing on the bank of a lake with grass and reeds in the background

Western Swamp Tortoise

Nyoongar Name: Yarkiny

Scientific Name: Pseudemydura umbrina

Common Name: Western Swamp Tortoise

Conservation status: Critically Endangered. This means a species has an extremely high chance of dying out or becoming extinct in the future.

A numbat stands on a fallen tree trunk, with leaves and branches in the background

Numbat

Nyoongar Name: Noombat

Scientific Name: Myrmecobius fasciatus

Common Name: Numbat

Conservation status: Endangered. This means a species is very likely to become extinct in the near future.

A Carnaby's Cockatoo perched near a banksia flower

Carnaby’s Cockatoo

Nyoongar Name: Ngoorlark

Scientific Name: Calyptorhynchus latirostris

Common Name: Carnaby’s Cockatoo

Conservation status: Endangered: Means a species is very likely to become extinct in the near future.

A western ringtail possum sitting on a tree branch at night, looking back at the camera

Western Ringtail Possum

Nyoongar Name: Wawding

Scientific Name: Pseudocheirus occidentalis

Common Name: Western Ringtail Possum

Conservation status: Critically Endangered: Means a species has an extremely high chance of dying out or becoming extinct in the future.