1. Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) 
A nocturnal, flightless parrot… critically endangered.
The Kakapo, also known as the owl parrot, is one of the most unusual birds on the planet. Endemic to New Zealand, this parrot cannot fly, is active at night, and can live over 90 years. Despite these fascinating traits, the kakapo has been on the brink of extinction for decades.
📌 Quick Facts
- Common name: Kakapo
- Scientific name: Strigops habroptilus
- Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)
- Location: New Zealand islands (especially predator-free islands)
- Current population: ~250 individuals (2024)
- Diet: Native fruits, leaves, roots, bark
🔴 Main threats:
- Introduced predators (cats, rats, weasels)
- Low reproductive rate
- High dependence on human management for survival
🌱 Conservation efforts:
- Assisted breeding and GPS tracking programs
- Strict predator control on protected islands
- Genetic monitoring to avoid inbreeding
✅ How you can help:
📸 Choose educational and sustainable products featuring endangered species
📢 Share the story of this extraordinary parrot
💚 Support conservation projects in New Zealand
Proserpine rock-wallaby (Petrogale persephone)
A shy acrobat fighting to survive on Australia’s cliffs
The Proserpine rock-wallaby, known scientifically as Petrogale persephone, is a small, agile marsupial native to the rocky cliffs and escarpments of northeastern Australia. Its shy nature and specialized habitat make it vulnerable to environmental changes and human impacts.
📌 Quick Facts
- Common name: Proserpine rock-wallaby
- Scientific name: Petrogale persephone
- Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
- Location: Northeastern Queensland, Australia
- Population: Estimated to be in the low thousands
- Diet: Leaves, fruits, grasses, and herbs
🔴 Main threats:
- Habitat loss due to land clearing and development
- Predation by introduced species like foxes and feral cats
- Fragmentation of habitat restricting movement and breeding
🌱 Conservation efforts:
- Habitat protection and management programs
- Predator control and monitoring
- Research into population health and genetics
✅ How you can help:
📸 Choose sustainable products that help fund protection programs
📢 Raise awareness about this unique wallaby
💚 Support wildlife conservation efforts in Australia
🦜 Yellow-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea)
A striking bird vanishing from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and Oceania
With its bright white plumage and striking yellow crest, this cockatoo is known for its intelligence, charisma, and loud vocalizations. Sadly, its beauty has also made it one of the most targeted species in the illegal wildlife trade, pushing it to the brink of extinction.
📌 Quick Facts
- Common name: Yellow-crested Cockatoo
- Scientific name: Cacatua sulphurea
- Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)
- Habitat: Tropical forests, mangroves, and wooded islands
- Range: Indonesia (Lesser Sunda Islands), Timor-Leste, parts of Papua
- Current population: Estimated fewer than 2,500 mature individuals
- Diet: Seeds, nuts, fruits, berries, and insects
🔴 Main Threats
- 🛑 Illegal capture for the exotic pet trade
- 🌳 Habitat loss due to deforestation and land-use changes
- 📉 Very slow reproductive rate, making recovery difficult
- 🔥 Human encroachment and forest fires
🌱 Conservation Efforts
- 📋 International protection under CITES (Appendix I)
- 🏝️ Protected areas and reintroduction efforts on predator-free islands
- 📢 Awareness campaigns to reduce demand in pet markets
- 🔬 Breeding programs and field monitoring
✅ How You Can Help
- 🚫 Never support the trade of wild birds
- 📣 Share awareness about the threats to this species
- 💚 Support reputable organizations working to protect Indonesia’s biodiversity
Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) 
The world’s largest carnivorous marsupial fights for its survival.
This peculiar animal, endemic to Tasmania, is famous for its powerful bite and loud vocalizations that earned it the name “devil.” Once common, it is now endangered due to a devastating disease and human-related threats.
📌 Quick Facts
- Common name: Tasmanian Devil
- Scientific name: Sarcophilus harrisii
- Conservation status: Endangered (IUCN Red List)
- Location: Tasmania Island, Australia
- Diet: Carnivore – carrion, small mammals, birds, reptiles
- Size: 60–80 cm long + 25–30 cm tail
- Lifespan: 5–7 years (in the wild)
⚠️ Main Threats
- Devil Facial Tumour Disease (contagious and fatal)
- Habitat loss and fragmentation
- Roadkill incidents
- Competition with introduced species
🌱 Conservation Efforts
- Captive breeding programs
- Disease-free reserve zones
- Genetic research and treatment trials
- Environmental education in Tasmania
✅ How You Can Help
- Support conservation programs in Australia
- Spread awareness to fight misinformation
- Promote responsible ecotourism in Tasmania
Dugong (Dugong dugon)
The gentle “sea cow” gliding through seagrass meadows
The dugong is a large, peaceful marine mammal that feeds exclusively on seagrass. Often called a “sea cow,” it plays a vital role in maintaining healthy coastal ecosystems. Despite its calm nature, the dugong is under increasing threat due to human activity and habitat loss across its range, including parts of Oceania.
📌 Quick Facts
- Common name: Dugong
- Scientific name: Dugong dugon
- Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
- Habitat: Shallow coastal waters with seagrass beds
- Range: Indian and western Pacific Oceans, including northern Australia
- Diet: Herbivore – exclusively seagrass
- Size: Up to 3 meters long; ~400 kg
- Lifespan: Up to 70 years
⚠️ Main Threats
- Seagrass habitat destruction due to coastal development and pollution
- Accidental entanglement in fishing gear
- Boat strikes
- Hunting in some regions
- Climate change affecting seagrass growth
🌱 Conservation Efforts
- Creation of marine protected areas
- Regulations on boat speeds and fishing practices
- Seagrass restoration projects
- Community awareness and education programs
✅ How You Can Help
- Support organizations protecting marine habitats
- Avoid products that contribute to ocean pollution
- Promote responsible boating and tourism practices
- Share awareness about this gentle marine giant
Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby (Petrogale xanthopus)
A nimble climber surviving the rugged Australian outback
The Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby is a striking marsupial known for its agility and colorful fur. It inhabits rocky escarpments and arid regions in Australia, where it expertly navigates cliffs and rocky outcrops. Despite its adaptability, habitat fragmentation and introduced predators threaten its survival.
📌 Quick Facts
- Common name: Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby
- Scientific name: Petrogale xanthopus
- Conservation status: Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)
- Habitat: Rocky hillsides, escarpments, and arid zones
- Range: Central and southern Australia
- Diet: Herbivore – grasses, leaves, fruits
- Size: Around 60–75 cm body length, with a tail almost as long
- Behavior: Nocturnal and crepuscular, skilled climber
⚠️ Main Threats
- Habitat loss and fragmentation due to mining and grazing
- Predation by feral cats and foxes
- Competition with introduced herbivores
- Drought and climate variability
🌱 Conservation Efforts
- Predator control programs
- Habitat protection and restoration
- Captive breeding and reintroduction projects
- Monitoring population trends
✅ How You Can Help
🛍️ Advocate for protecting natural habitats and controlling invasive species
📢 Support native wildlife conservation groups
🌿 Spread awareness about Australia’s unique marsupials
🦜 Orange-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata)
A striking bird with a vibrant crest, facing severe threats in its natural habitat
The Orange-crested Cockatoo is a rare subspecies of the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, known for its beautiful orange-yellow crest and charismatic personality. Native to parts of Indonesia, this bird faces intense pressure from habitat loss and the illegal pet trade, pushing it dangerously close to extinction.
📌 Quick Facts
- Common name: Orange-crested Cockatoo
- Scientific name: Cacatua sulphurea citrinocristata
- Conservation status: Critically Endangered (IUCN Red List)
- Habitat: Lowland forests and mangroves in Indonesia
- Diet: Seeds, nuts, fruits, and flowers
- Behavior: Highly social and intelligent, often seen in small flocks
⚠️ Main Threats
- Deforestation and habitat destruction
- Illegal trapping for the pet trade
- Small and fragmented populations
🌱 Conservation Efforts
- Protection of remaining forest habitats
- Captive breeding and release programs
- Awareness campaigns to reduce illegal trade
- Local community involvement in conservation
✅ How You Can Help
🛍️ Educate others about the importance of conserving this beautiful cockatoo
📢 Support organizations fighting wildlife trafficking
🌿 Promote sustainable forest management
🌏 About This Content: A Representative Sample, Not the Whole Picture
The goal of this article is to highlight some of Oceania’s most emblematic and threatened species. However, it is important to emphasize that these represent only a small fraction of the reality.
According to data from the IUCN Red List (International Union for Conservation of Nature), there are currently in Oceania:
🟡 378 species listed as Vulnerable (VU)
🟠 335 species listed as Endangered (EN)
🔴 166 species listed as Critically Endangered (CR)
These numbers include a wide range of fauna — mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates — many of which are little known outside scientific circles or lack accessible images and sufficient information for the general public.
📌 What you find in this article are just some well-known, emblematic, or visually representative examples, helping readers connect with the continent’s biodiversity in a more approachable and educational way.
If you want to explore the full picture, you can visit the IUCN database: 👉 https://www.iucnredlist.org/