Australia’s Endangered Bush Creatures

Australia’s Endangered Bush Creatures

Myke Mollard

Woodslane Press, 2022

64pp., hbk., RRP $A24.99

9781925868876

“We share this earth with many creatures great and small.  They have evolved over hundreds of thousands to millions of years to live in balance with and help sustain their environments – the same environments that define and enable our very existence… Whether because of mankind’s destructive footprint or natural disasters, some of these creatures are being pushed to the brink of extinction. Their survival is a measure of the likelihood of our survival, for we are all earthlings and share this planet with these precious creatures,  We are part of this land, just passing through this timeless, sunburnt country…”

This profound statement serves as the introduction to this book from Myke Mollard, another in his series that brings to life both Australia’s and the world’s natural history, and while he acknowledges that :mother Earth” provides him with “the grandeur, beauty m diversity and wonderment” to illustrate his books, she also provides a consistent reminder of the importance of protecting as much of the Earth’s diversity as possible.

Awareness of the impact of humans on the fragility of the landscape is critical to the protection and preservation of its inhabitants, and this book, which introduces 134 of Australia’s most endangered animals from the handfish of Hobart to the land snails of the rainforests, through accessible text and Mollard’s distinctive, detailed  illustrations is an important beginning.  Readers are taken into the worlds of the featured creatures and learn not only about their habitats and interdependence but also the threats they face, particularly those caused by people. 

While not all students can engage with the critically endangered mountain pygmy possum in a way that our local students have, nevertheless they wouldn’t have to go far before they encounter a similarly endangered species in their own region which could become an impetus for a similar conservation project. 

Mountain pygmy possum population bounces back in NSW alps

Students from local schools in NSW Snowy Mountains, including at Berridale, Jindabyne, Cooma and Adaminaby make and bake “bogong biscuits”

Students from the Snowy Monaro Academy of STEM Excellence and Berridale Public School became junior scientists and researchers on an important STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) project they have been learning about for the year, creating innovative designs and structures to solve a climate change problem encountered by the Bogong Moth and Pygmy Possum.

This is one of many publications by Myke Mollard who is driven by his passion to educate kids about the natural world and like the others, he achieves his goal yet again.