Scientists don't just study living things — they use what they learn to help protect them. Today you'll build a real, evidence-based plan to help a species survive.

Why does this matter? Because Australia is home to animals found nowhere else on Earth — and many are in trouble.

Most threats to Australian wildlife come from a handful of causes. Scientists remember the big ones with the word HIPPO.

Threat	What it means	Real example
Habitat loss	Clearing land for farms and cities	Koala forests cleared in QLD & NSW
Invasive species	Introduced animals that prey on or out-compete natives	Feral cats kill ~1.5 billion native animals a year
Pollution	Chemicals, plastic and runoff harming habitats	Fertiliser runoff onto the Great Barrier Reef
Population (human)	More people needing more space and resources	Coastal development on shorebird nesting beaches
Overuse	Taking too much, too fast	Overfishing reducing fish stocks

A scientist's response isn't just "we should save it." It's built in three steps — watch them appear.

Good news: conservation works when it targets the real cause. Here are proven actions and the evidence behind them.

Action	How it helps	Evidence it works
Predator-proof fences	Keeps out feral cats & foxes	Inside fenced reserves, bilbies & bettongs have bounced back
Captive breeding	Builds numbers safely, then releases	The eastern barred bandicoot was saved from extinction this way
Habitat restoration	Replants food & shelter	Revegetated corridors let animals move & breed again
Protected areas	Stops land clearing & hunting	National parks protect over 1,000 threatened species' homes

Let's build one response together, using a real case study.

Together, fill in the three steps:

Now it's your turn. With your partner, research your assigned species and build a response poster.

Share your poster with another pair, then reflect.