Reptile Recovery - the scaly facts
Australia has a rich and unique reptile fauna with over 90% of them found nowhere else in the world. Sadly, the majority of Australia's reptiles are declining in numbers, with one in four of Australia's 850 reptile species in significant decline. Of these, Queensland has the highest number, with 41% of our reptile species under threat.
Reptile species at the greatest risk of extinction are those whose declines are driven largely by clearing of native vegetation and the consequent fragmentation of their populations. Unfortunately, the ecology and distribution of these reptiles is not very well known, compared to that of either mammals or birds, making conservation activities difficult.
In response to this situation, QMDC has been working with the Threatened Species Network and the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a Reptile Recovery Plan, with associated activities, to help protect and preserve 16 significant reptile species found in the Queensland part of the Brigalow Belt bioregion. This region is an Australian Government priority for nature conservation.
What is the Reptile Recovery Plan?
Recovery plans set out the research and management actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, listed threatened species or threatened ecological communities. The Queensland Brigalow Belt Reptile Recovery Plan aims to secure and improve the long term survival of 16 reptile species and to raise awareness of reptile conservation issues within the community.
By working together with many different stakeholders across the region the Recovery Team are aiming to achieve some fantastic conservation outcomes for reptiles over the next five years and beyond.
More information about the recovery plan...
- Download the current draft, which is awaiting feedback and endorsement from the Australian Government.
- Download a list of the species covered by the recovery plan.
- Email QMDC's Regional Nature Conservation Officer for more information.
The Reptile Recovery Toolkit
As a part of the recovery plan activities, a toolkit has been developed to help raise awareness about the 16 recovery species, where they can be found, and how we can help preserve their declining numbers.
The toolkit was launched on 4 October by Dalby Regional Council Mayor, Ray Brown, as part of the Myall Park Botanic Garden Reptile Workshop.
You can download part one and part two of the whole kit, or view each species fact sheet.