Australia Lists 21 New Threatened Species After Devastating Bushfires

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Australia has added 21 new species to its threatened list overnight, including the once-common little tern seabird that's losing its foreshore habitat to development.

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The threatened additions include three types of purple-flowering boronia, two giant burrowing frogs, a turtle named after Steve Irwin, and a rare dolphin from Kimberley coast waters.

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Climate change was repeatedly cited as worsening these species' decline, alongside the devastating impact of the 2019-2020 Black Summer Bushfires that scorched 19 million hectares.

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Biodiversity Council director James Trezise warns future generations will view the lack of action with "regret" as each generation experiences increasingly less wildlife.

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Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek blamed "a decade of environmental vandalism" by previous governments while touting her administration's half-billion-dollar investment to save native species.

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Conservation experts note the government's own budget papers assessed its performance on maintaining threatened species as "off track," with around 600 recovery plans still outstanding.

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A Griffith University report found preventing extinction of just 99 rare Australian species would cost $15.6 billion annually for 30 years, while only 0.01% of the federal budget goes to nature protection.

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The four major threats driving species toward extinction are habitat destruction, invasive species, climate change, and fire, with conservation groups now taking legal action against the government.

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