Protecting threatened species
The pest-control efforts mentioned in this section aim to restore some balance to our environment. Many Australian plants and animals are unique. However, largely because of changes made in our ecosystems since European settlement, many of these species have already disappeared, and many others are in danger of extinction.
Changing our natural ecosystems for uses such as farming, recreation, industry or housing changes or destroys the habitats of many species.
Many of the species introduced into Australia not only prey on native animals and plants, but also compete with native animals for food, shelter, and territory, or destroy the habitat of native plants.
The best method of protecting threatened animals or plants is to conserve their habitat and to control introduced invasive species. Breeding programs in zoos and botanical gardens can preserve genetically-varied populations of animals and plants. Some of the organisms bred in this way may even be reintroduced to areas where the populations have disappeared.
The release of an endangered marsupial, the chuditch (western quoll) in Western Australia, is an example of such a successful program.
Read more about this program at the Department of Environment and Conservation in Western Australia: https://www.dec.wa.gov.au/programs/project-eden/index.html