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The
Wombat Foundation Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat worth saving A new 'extinction index' will do little to help save endangered species according to the not-for-profit organization, The Wombat Foundation. The organization is concerned that the Species Ability to Forestall Extinction (SAFE) index created by scientists from Adelaide University may be used as an excuse to 'give up' on conservation of Australian species. "We were surprised and disturbed to find the northern hairy-nosed wombat on the list of species considered not worth saving" said The Wombat Foundation director, Jacqui Mills. "The northern hairy-nosed wombat is on the IUCN's Red List of critically endangered species. Conservation efforts are just starting to bear fruit with a second colony of northern hairy-nosed wombats being established in Queensland". The SAFE index identifies the probability of a species becoming extinct. But The Wombat Foundation does not share the view of the index's founders that scarce resources should be redirected towards less threatened species. "Would Australians accept that it's okay to fund conservation for some species whilst ignoring the plight of our most endangered species? It is imperative that our iconic species are conserved for future generations". The Wombat Foundation will continue to support the northern hairy-nosed wombat recovery program led by the Queensland Department of Environment and Resource Management. Download
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