Waratahs added to Australia's endangered species list: 'Hard to imagine'

One of Australia’s best-known flowers, the Gibraltar Range waratah, has been listed as endangered. Illegal poaching of the popular flowers, as well as changing weather patterns and fire have been linked to its demise.

It’s believed fewer than 2500 mature adult plants are left in the wild. The Gibraltar Range waratah (Telopea aspera) is similar in appearance to the NSW floral emblem the Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) although it has been harder to cultivate. It is a woody shrub that grows to three metres and has limited distribution, mostly around the New England region of NSW.

Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said it was "hard to imagine that the Gibraltar Range waratah – a symbol of our nation – is under threat in Australia".

More than 20 new species added to endangered list

The plant was one of 15 to be added to the Commonwealth’s list of species threatened with extinction for the first time. There were also two lizards, a sea snake, a crayfish, a fish, and one ecological community that were given new protections under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

The government said listing the species would give them better protection from threats including invasive species including cats and pigs. Many are continuing to face ongoing complications from the impact of the Black Summer Bushfires.

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“Our government is committed to giving our precious threatened plants and animals a brighter future. That’s why today we’ve listed 20 species and 1 ecological community under national environment law for the first time – giving them stronger protection under law,” Plibersek added.

“We are acting on the best available advice and science to better protect plants, animals and ecosystems under threat.”

Also included on the list were the McCulloch anemone fish, the Conondale spiny crayfish (endangered), Moritz leaf-tale gecko (endangered), granite leaf-tailed gecko, and the King Island scrub complex ecological community.

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