The fight to save Australia's endangered species | Four Corners

The fight to save Australia's endangered species.

Australia boasts a stunning array of unique wildlife. They feature on our coat of arms and they're placed front and centre in our tourism campaigns. But the reality is, many of our native animals are in danger.

Australia has one of the worst extinction rates on the planet and the problem is growing. There are currently more than 500 animal species under threat.

Four Corners investigates how Australia has found itself in the midst of an extinction crisis.

There is heated debate over who is responsible and what lengths governments should go to, to save these threatened species.

Four Corners goes into the field with leading scientists and conservation volunteers to document first hand the fight to save these wild creatures. Our camera captures precious pictures of some of these endangered animals.

With money in short supply, many rescue efforts are reliant on volunteers and crowdfunding.

Ecologists say these species are just as priceless as a work of art and should be protected in the same way.

They warn that species extinction will have consequences for us all.

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This program features contributions from:
ANDROO KELLY, Trowunna Wildlife Sanctuary, Tasmania
JAMES TREZISE, Australian Conservation Foundation
PROF. DAVID LINDENMAYER, Ecologist, Australian National University
SUSSAN LEY, Federal Environment Minister
DR BRONWYN FANCOURT, Ecologist, University of New England
PROF. BRENDAN WINTLE, Threatened Species Hub
STEVE MEACHER, Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum
ROSS HAMPTON, Australian Forest Products Association
PROF. JOHN WOINARSKI, Conservation Biologist, Charles Darwin University
SARAH REES, My Environment
DANIEL ANDREWS, Victorian Premier
DR DEJAN STOJANOVIC, Conservation Biologist, Australian National University
DR ROBERT CLEMENS, Migratory shorebird expert
JUDITH HOYLE, BirdLife Australia