PM Transcripts

j A UST RA L 1,,
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS NOVEMBER 4, 1976
ENDANGERED SPECIES LEAFLETS
The Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser, today launched the
publication of a series of leaflets on endangered species
of Australian wildlife.
The species featured in the first five leaflets are the
Rabbit-eared Bandicoot, the Bridled Nail-tailed Wallaby,
the Banded Hare-wallaby, the Night Parrot and the Ground Parrot.
Other leaflets are in preparation. Each leaflet contains
information on the ecology, description, status and distribution
of a rare, endangered species, a coloured illustration of the
animal and a photograph of its habitat.
They are aimed at promoting public awareness of Australia's
wildlife heritage and the need for its conservation.
Support for the viewpoint that man must live in harmony with
his environment has been growing and it is becoming widely
recognised that Australians are seen by the rest of the world
as having a ; pecial responsibility to ensure the continued
survival of those plants and animals which are unique to
Australia. The diversity of Australian native wildlife is an important
and characteristic part of the environment, and contributes
significantly to the scientific cultural, educational and
aesthetic well-being of the community.
The series of leaflets are being prepared by the Australian
National Parks and Wildlife Service to assist in protecting
Australian animals and plants theatened with extinction.
The introduction of the leaflets coincides with the first
meeting of Parties to the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in Berne, Switzerland,
from 2 6 November 1976.
All species featured in the leaflets have been nominated by
Australia for inclusion in Appendix I to this Convention.
The Australian species listed on this appendix have been
determined jointly by the Commonwealth and State Wildlife Services.
The leaflets are available from the Australian National Parks
and Wildlife Serivce, P. O. Box 636, Canberra City 2601 and Australian
Government Publishing Service Bookshops in all capital cities.