Biodiversity Picks of the Week: Australia

Biodiversity Picks of the Week: Australia

 

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Australia's biodiversity is both rich and unique; between 7 and 10 per cent of all species on Earth occur in Australia. Australia's biodiversity is under increased threat and has, overall, continued to decline. Over the last 200 years, the Australian environment has been modified dramatically. Australia has lost 75% of its rainforests and has the world's worst record of mammal extinctions.One of the main threats to Australia's biodiversity is habitat loss, and land-clearing is happening at a staggering rate.

Rolling Nature's Environmental Arm Initiative Earth is celebrating biodiversity on the theme of World Environment Day. We launched Love Nature 2020 WED campaign in this direction. Read for yourself few picks from our editor, that are going through tough times due to human actions. 

Biodiversity Pick: Koala: #LoveNature Campaign 2020


These cuties aren't bears – they're marsupials! In Picture: Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Koalas are listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The animal was hunted heavily in the early 20th century for its fur, and large-scale cullings in Queensland Australia which resulted in a public outcry that initiated a movement to protect the species. Among the many threats to their existence are habitat destruction caused by agriculture, urbanization, droughts and associated bushfires, some related to climate change. Increased habitat loss may also increase risks from vehicle traffic, dog attacks, pesticides in waterways, and increased food competition.

Koalas are found in the eucalyptus forests of eastern Australia. Although you may have heard people call them koala ‘bears’, these awesome animals aren’t bears at all – they are in fact marsupials. The cutest you bet, baby Koalas are Called ‘joeys’.

These magnificent mammals get their name form an Aboriginal* term meaning, ‘no drink’. It’s believed this is because koalas get almost all their moisture from the leaves they eat, and rarely drink water. It’s believed this is because koalas get almost all their moisture from the leaves they eat, and rarely drink water. Iconic and lovable mammal – like right now they are incredibly vulnerable to local extinction in NSW Australia. One in every four species facing extinction and human actions leading to climate change is a major concern now.https://bit.ly/2A3kkfQ                                              

Biodiversity Pick: Gauldian Finch: #LoveNature Campaign 2020


 

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This brilliant, multicolored bird with vibrant plumage is threatened in wild. In Picture: Gouldian Finch (Rainbow Finch) A colourful passerine bird that is native to Australia. Human destruction , capture for the pet for trade, Habitat destruction caused by wildfires, parasitic air-sac mites, predation, and disease are all cited as contributing causes of their decline for decades.
A brilliantly colorful, unmistakable bird with vivid green back, yellow belly, purple chest, blue nape, black throat, and very pale bill; face may be red, yellow. Gouldians were then trapped and exported in large numbers from Australia until the late 1960s. Exporting the birds reduced the population of Gouldians considerably in the wild. Grazing cattle and the creation of farmland further challenged the Gouldian. Estimates say there are only 2,500 mature individuals remaining. However these birds are bred in captivity but they are just watching only birds, and are very susceptible to stress. If hand held they mostly die.
 

Biodiversity Pick: Sea Dragon: #LoveNature Campaign 2020


 

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Image© Rolling Nature. 

Enter the mysterious world of Sea Dragons. These charismatic marine fish species are near threatened by IUCN due to water pollution & habitat destruction. In picture: Phyllopteryx taeniolatus (common sea dragon or weedy sea dragon). These little-known but incredibly fascinating creatures of the ocean are distantly related to seahorses but sea dragons are in fact more closely related to pipefish. It is endemic to the southern coast of Australia.There are just three known species of sea dragons, the leafy sea dragon, the weedy, or common sea dragon, and the ruby sea dragon.

The Leafy Sea Dragon is the state marine emblem for Southern Australia. Unable to move quickly, they use their fins to sway rhythmically which makes them resemble the waving, leafy seaweed they derive their names from. 

Biodiversity Pick: Ulysses Butterfly: #LoveNature Campaign 2020


 

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Let's celebrate biodiversity & conserve it. Nature is sending us message. In picture: Ulysses Butterfly (Also known as Blue Emperor) perched on Red Flower. It is a large swallowtail butterfly of Australia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Its size varies depending on subspecies, but the wingspan is about 10.5 cm to 14 cm.

There are fear in Australia that this butterfly may be extinct, from 2016 the sightings which were common has become rare. They are in threatened category by IUCN. In the other parts of the world generally collections of butterfly may cause the decrease in numbers in species, but for this mountain blue swallow butterfly clearing or destruction of rain forest is the biggest reason for the loss of species. Human actions has threatened several species of these little beautiful creatures which make our world beautiful and are important pollinators for the plants.

Like & Stay tuned to Initiative Earth https://www.facebook.com/InitiativeEarth/ FB page! Join our Initiative Earth "LOVE NATURE" Campaign for World Environment Day, 5th June, 2020. #LoveNature. Catch all the latest environmental updates & action & participate in upcoming events, contests, polls & more. Want to volunteer? Contact us at initiativeearth@rollingnature.com

About Initiative Earth: Initiative Earth came into being after 7 yrs of contribution & campaigns of Rolling Nature for the welfare of environment & Earth & through this initiative we will proactively work with individuals, organizations, policymakers for crucial actions for mother earth. We also aim to spread awareness to all masses and make this a revolution. Your support now, will pave way for better future for coming generations.
#LoveNature #ForNature #Biodiversity #ClimateChange #Environment #InitiativeEarth #UNEP #TimeForNature

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