Ceo
Report
DR JOHN TRACEY
© Wildlife Qld
February & March 2026
Dear friends of Wildlife Queensland,
Over the past two months, Wildlife Queensland has continued to progress important conservation programs, advocacy work and community engagement across Queensland. From field monitoring and new research partnerships to citizen science and branch-led activities, it has been encouraging to see so many people contributing to the protection of our wildlife.
Below is a snapshot of some of the work underway across our three mission areas.
Protecting wildlife
Field programs and research partnerships continue to strengthen the evidence needed to protect threatened species and ecosystems.
The Saving Native Species Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby project has now reached the final stage of its on-ground work. Recent months have focused on site monitoring, working with landholders and coordinating fox and feral cat control across key habitats. Reporting and analysis will now begin to guide future management and funding opportunities. Through the generous donations of our amazing supporters we are able to continue this critical work.
Across South East Queensland waterways, the Resilient Rivers eDNA program is revealing the diversity of wildlife living in our catchments. Early results from the Wolston Catchment detected platypus, rakali, turtles, flying foxes and 16 native fish species, providing valuable baseline data for tracking ecosystem health over time.
Citizen science is also expanding. EchidnaWatch has secured more than $113,000 in new funding to support research and community engagement, including a new initiative called Echidna Detectives, which will invite the public to report sightings and contribute samples for research.
Our Discover & Protect initiative is also evolving, with special thanks to Transurban and all our partners for their support. The program will expand beyond threatened species to include all biodiversity, helping fill important knowledge gaps across Queensland. With support from a Transurban grant, upcoming BioBlitz events and workshops will encourage communities to record wildlife through iNaturalist. Griffith University students Maddie Grant and Jemma Rose have joined the project to help deliver these activities.
Brush-tailed rock-wallaby monitoring: mum and joey caught on camera.
Influencing choices
Wildlife Queensland continues to advocate for stronger protection of biodiversity and better planning decisions that support nature.
Recent advocacy and media engagement have focused on issues such as flying fox management, national nature law reform, invasive species, ghost bats, threatened species recovery and the koala strategy
Discussions are also progressing on coordinated, landscape-scale predator management across southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. These approaches aim to support the recovery of species such as brush-tailed rock-wallabies and spotted-tailed quolls while delivering broader environmental benefits.
We also continue to promote habitat restoration for the Richmond birdwing butterfly, highlighting the important role communities play in restoring corridors for this iconic species.
Richmond Birdwing Butterfly Survey, Hinterland Regional Park (c: Anusha Vidovic).
Engaging communities
Community participation remains central to Wildlife Queensland’s work. Across the state, our branches and project teams continue to connect people with wildlife and empower communities to take action.
Recent activities have included Richmond birdwing butterfly walks on the Gold Coast with Friends of Parks Queensland, as well as workshops through Logan City Council’s Eco Logan program, Forest for Forestdale, and the City of Moreton Bay.
Our collaboration with Blackbutt Wildlife is also underway through the WIRES-funded Glider Conservation Nest Box Project, which will provide new nesting habitat while raising awareness of gliders and their habitat needs.
The dedication of our volunteers, members, supporters and partners makes this work possible.
Thank you for helping protect Queensland’s remarkable wildlife.
Kind regards,
John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
Wildlife Queensland
Past reports
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January 2026
Dear friends of Wildlife Queensland,
The past two months have been busy, demanding, and rewarding for Wildlife Queensland. December brought intense advocacy work and a strong finish to the year, while January has given us space to consolidate, plan, and look ahead. Across both months, our staff, branches, volunteers and supporters continue to remind us that our greatest impact comes from acting together for wildlife.
I would especially like to thank everyone who supported our Christmas appeal. Together, you helped raise over $132,000 for brush-tailed rock-wallaby conservation, an outstanding result that will directly support on-ground action for one of Queensland’s most threatened mammals.
Protecting wildlife
On-ground conservation continued across our priority programs. Our monitoring and surveys progressed across platypus, brush-tailed rock wallabies, gliders, Richmond birdwings and many others, ensuring we continue to build the evidence needed to guide effective action.
Our brush-tailed rock-wallaby program moved into an important monitoring phase, assessing population presence and habitat condition following predator control and weed management carried out in 2025. This work is critical to understanding what is working on the ground and where further effort is needed.
We also continue to benefit from strong partnerships with Queensland universities, with student research contributing to data analysis, monitoring priorities and improved decision-making across several conservation programs. These collaborations help turn research into practical outcomes for wildlife.
Influencing choices
December and January was a particularly active period for advocacy. Wildlife Queensland made more than 13 joint and individual submissions, letters to state and Commonwealth ministers, and provided briefings and engaged in Parliamentary hearings in response to proposed national and state nature reforms, bills, environmental approval processes and changes affecting wildlife protection.
As governments seek to reform and streamline regulation, we must ensure that wildlife protection is not weakened in the process. This advocacy work will continue into 2026, with a focus on long-term outcomes.
Engaging communities
Community connection remained at the heart of our work over the summer. In December and January, people joined us for Batty Boat Cruises, learning about flying-fox ecology while experiencing Brisbane’s waterways in a new way. These events continue to be a powerful reminder of how curiosity and shared experience can change perceptions of wildlife.
Across the state, our branches were also busy bringing people together. From local walks and talks to citizen science activities such as the Fraser Coast branch bioblitz, community members were out recording species, learning from one another, and contributing valuable data. I would like to thank our branches and amazing volunteers for the energy, passion and leadership they bring to this important work.
Looking ahead
January has also been a time of planning and consolidation for the organisation. Our focus for 2026 is on strengthening systems, supporting branches and our partners, and ensuring Wildlife Queensland is financially and organisationally sustainable, while maintaining strong conservation impact. This work is essential to reducing risk and giving us the confidence to grow our conservation efforts from a stable base.
Thank you to all our supporters, members, volunteers and partners for standing with us. Your support turns concern into action – protecting wildlife, influencing decisions, and engaging communities throughout Queensland.
Kind regards,
John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
Wildlife Queensland
November & December 2025
Dear friends of Wildlife Queensland,
As we approach the end of 2025, it’s inspiring to reflect on the last month and see how much we’ve achieved together. Fieldwork has continued strongly, our advocacy has also been strong, contributing to shaping important environmental discussions, and our community events have brought more Queenslanders into the fold at a crucial time when nature needs us all.
Protecting wildlife
Across Queensland, our science-led programs continue to strengthen recovery efforts for threatened species.
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Project remains a major focus, with large-scale predator control underway across four priority sites covering more than 15,000 hectares. Bait take by foxes and feral cats is strong, and the next phase of monitoring will help us track progress toward our long-term goal of doubling populations in South East Queensland. As Christmas approaches, we are raising funds to continue this work next year. Please consider supporting this appeal – every donation is now doubled and will help secure the future of this vulnerable species.
Meanwhile, Dr Tam Brunt’s eDNA work for the Resilient Rivers project is well underway. Sampling across South East Queensland catchments is building a clearer picture of species presence, waterway health and priority sites for restoration. This work has received significant public attention following its ministerial launch, and it is encouraging to see such strong community interest in freshwater biodiversity.
The Richmond birdwing butterfly project, led by Matt Cecil, continues to shine. In early November, Wildlife Queensland was named the 2025 National Quarry Life Award winner, securing $7,000 in prize funding and an ongoing $4,000-per-year commitment from Heidelberg Materials to support vine plantings at additional sites. At Wolffdene and Nerang quarries, 85 birdwing vines were planted with an 81 per cent survival rate, improving habitat connectivity and demonstrating how rehabilitation partnerships can help vulnerable species. The Quarry Open Day also enabled families to take vines home and learn firsthand how to support this remarkable butterfly.
Our glider work also progressed, with the eDNA hollows project expanding data-sharing with acoustic experts to improve species call recognition. Detection dogs supported surveys on Logan Land for Wildlife properties, helping identify nest hollows and important eucalypts that need protection. These insights strengthen our ability to safeguard habitat for greater gliders, one of Queensland’s most threatened mammals.
Influencing choices
Through all of this, our advocacy continues to ensure wildlife is considered in policy and planning decisions. The past month has seen a strong focus on national and state nature reforms, local developments and state decisions that affect them, plastics regulation, renewable energy impacts, and biodiversity safeguards. At the Minister’s Round Table, we joined conservation partners in calling for measurable outcomes for threatened species, clearer performance reporting and greater investment in recovery programs. We welcomed constructive dialogue with departmental leaders and highlighted the need for transparency, stronger offsets and biodiversity planning across Queensland.
We also continued to participate in state-level discussions on wild dog management, renewable energy infrastructure and protection of critical habitat. Nationally, we reaffirmed our call for an independent EPA, stronger environmental standards, improved oversight and increased investment in threatened species. These reforms remain vital if Australia is to reverse biodiversity decline and meet global commitments.
Our branches remain central to this work. Recent updates include meaningful discussions with Upper Dawson members on local biodiversity impacts, renewables, and wildlife signage; ongoing advocacy from the Sunshine Coast Branch on Coochin Creek; and renewed volunteer interest within the Capricorn Branch on managing regrowth and ghost bats as they plan for 2026.
Engaging communities
Wildlife Queensland also hosted a warm and welcoming Thank You Morning Tea at the Gold Coast, bringing together local donors, supporters, and staff to celebrate a year of progress and share project updates from across the region. Events like these help strengthen the community that supports our conservation efforts.
We also welcomed supporters on board our Christmas Batty Boat Cruise last Sunday. It was a wonderful evening on the river, filled with close-up wildlife encounters, festive spirit, and a shared appreciation for our flying fox colonies during one of the busiest times of year for these important pollinators.
Community engagement has been strong, with events across Queensland involving school groups, citizen scientists, and Land for Wildlife landholders. Media interest has also increased, especially around the eDNA project, with Tam’s interviews helping people understand how science informs practical conservation outcomes.
As we head into the festive season, I want to thank you for your support, generosity and belief in what Wildlife Queensland can achieve. Together, we are building a more secure future for our unique species and ecosystems.
Kind regards,
John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
Wildlife Queensland
October 2025
Dear friends of Wildlife Queensland,
With our 2025 Annual Report now available, it’s a great time to reflect on just what is possible from coming together to achieve truly amazing things for our wildlife.
What an amazing year we’ve had, of growth, impact and the collective effort of an extraordinary team. Only possible with the combined efforts of our staff, volunteers, branches and supporters—all of you!
Protecting wildlife
Across the state, our science-based programs continue to deliver real gains for threatened species.
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Project has completed predator control and is now monitoring rock-wallaby populations across 15,000 hectares, with early signs of increased juvenile survival indicating a positive recovery. As we look toward Christmas, our focus turns to continuing this critical work through our Christmas Appeal, ensuring these vulnerable wallabies have a secure future. You can help protect Queensland’s brush-tailed rock-wallabies by donating today.
At the same time, Dr Tam Brunt has kicked off eDNA testing for the Resilient Rivers project, which will assess aquatic biodiversity across South East Queensland’s catchments. This vital research will help identify priority sites for restoration and improve our understanding of species distribution in these freshwater systems.
Our Projects team is also developing a new initiative in the Redland local government area, investigating wildlife diversity on select private land. By working directly with landholders, this project aims to identify opportunities for habitat enhancement and strengthen landscape connectivity for native species.
Meanwhile, our Queensland Glider Network, EchidnaWatch, and PlatypusWatch programs continue to grow, connecting community volunteers with scientists to track species presence and habitat change. And in South East Queensland, restoration for the Richmond birdwing butterfly is linking fragmented habitats and re-establishing the vines these iconic butterflies depend on.
Influencing choices
Our advocacy continues to ensure wildlife remains central to policy and planning decisions. Through detailed submissions, partnerships and direct engagement, we’re promoting stronger protections for threatened species and ecosystems at every level of government.
Nationally, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to fix Australia’s nature laws. We continue to call for Parliament to establish an independent national EPA; close deforestation loopholes; set clear, enforceable national environmental standards; and increase funding for threatened species recovery to at least 1% of the federal budget. We welcome the government’s intent to modernise the EPBC Act and strengthen environmental governance, but we emphasise that these reforms must deliver genuinely independent oversight, binding standards and transparent accountability and be backed by increased funding commitments if they are to succeed.
Engaging communities
We also continue to advocate at the state level for bioregional planning, protection of critical habitat, action on offsets, avoiding biodiversity impacts of renewable energy and increased funding commitment for threatened species.
Our 13 branches remain the beating heart of Wildlife Queensland, uniting people through action, learning and shared care for the natural world. From citizen science surveys and habitat restoration to community talks and awareness campaigns, they are connecting more Queenslanders than ever with conservation.
In October, the Bayside Branch hosted the 2025 Annual General Meeting at the Redlands Coast Museum. The event brought together members, staff, and branch representatives from across Queensland to celebrate a year of community and conservation. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on shared progress, acknowledge the contribution of our branches and honour individuals who have made an enduring impact on wildlife conservation.
Janelle Devery, Wildlife Queensland’s Operations Manager, was recognised for her 16 years of dedicated service and steady leadership. Des Boyland received both the Wildlife Queensland Service Award and Honorary Life Membership in recognition of his decades of advocacy and policy work that have strengthened environmental protections across Queensland. Peter Olgivie was awarded Honorary Life Membership for his lifetime commitment to wildlife conservation and his invaluable contribution to the organisation’s growth and success.
As we approach the festive season, I want to thank every person who has contributed to Wildlife Queensland’s success. Your energy, compassion and commitment have made 2025 a year to celebrate and a foundation to build upon.
Kind regards,
John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
Wildlife Queensland
September 2025
Dear friends of Wildlife Queensland,
September has been another month of great progress across Queensland, with our projects, advocacy, and community efforts continuing to grow in scope and impact.
Protecting wildlife
Our field projects are delivering results that demonstrate the value of persistence and science-based management.
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby project is showing encouraging signs, with juveniles now regularly observed at four priority sites across South East Queensland. This is a sharp contrast to previous years, when very few older juveniles survived. Sustained baiting and connectivity analysis are improving conditions for survival, and these results strengthen the case for ongoing funding to secure long-term recovery.
Land for Wildlife surveys for the brush-tailed rock-wallaby have produced a new detection in the Scenic Rim, just five kilometres from previous records. These efforts not only extend our understanding of rock-wallaby ranges but also demonstrate the power of citizen science, with participants now running their own spotlight counts and camera traps to support the search.
Meanwhile, the glider hollows project is yielding valuable insights. Greater gliders have now occupied nest boxes that were previously vacant, and acoustic monitoring has confirmed yellow-bellied gliders at multiple sites. These findings will directly inform habitat models and guide stronger protections for hollow-dependent species.
Discover & Protect, which commenced in May, is progressing strongly with UQ’s Ali Baker-Lahey and Jaclyn Hood leading the fauna work. Sixteen partners are now trialling the project, with 144 citizen scientists already contributing 720 observations of 120 species, feeding structured data into ALA and WildNet. This testing phase is refining the platform for broader rollout. On the plant side, the Queensland Threatened Plant Network, led by Paul Donatiu, is building momentum through partner presentations and Traditional Owner collaborations from Minjerribah to Far North Queensland, strengthening conservation of our most vulnerable plants, while building long-term community and cultural capacity for threatened species recovery.
Influencing choices
Wildlife Queensland continues to ensure that wildlife remains central to decision-making. This month:
We wrote to the Queensland Government, urging a statewide ban on enclosed yabby traps, highlighting the dangers they pose to platypuses, rakali, turtles and other species.
We finalised joint submissions with the Wildlife Land Fund Ltd to the Fresh Start for Private Protected Areasconsultation, the Queensland Future Timber Plan, and the draft determination on the Soft Plastics Stewardship Program. On PPAs, we expressed strong support for expansion, calling for a CAR reserve system, prioritisation of high-value landscapes, greater landholder support, and stronger First Nations co-stewardship. On timber, we urged an immediate end to native forest harvesting on state land and the prohibition of logging in essential habitat, raising concerns over biodiversity decline, exclusion of conservation voices, and conflicts with conservation landholders.
Through the newly established Policy & Advocacy Committee, our submissions and position statements are ensuring Wildlife Queensland’s voice remains credible, science-driven, and solution-focused.
Engaging communities
Wildlife Queensland hosted more than 10 community events this month, with strong participation across the state. A highlight was a series of EchidnaWatch ‘walk and talks’ in Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley. Led by Dr Kate Dutton-Regester, these events brought together families, bushcarers, and Land for Wildlife members for guided walks to identify echidna diggings, scats, and foraging signs. Participants also heard about the latest university-led research, including student projects on echidna behaviour and threats such as fire ants. The sessions not only contributed valuable data but also built community understanding of how citizen science is shaping echidna conservation.
Other events included PlatypusWatch observations, quoll camera traps, and spotlighting surveys, giving Queenslanders a chance to see firsthand how their involvement supports species monitoring.
At the branch level, a gathering in Toowoomba brought together members and staff to discuss the branch’s future directions and priorities, from habitat protection in the escarpment country to expanding citizen science monitoring. There was strong enthusiasm for revitalising the branch’s role as a hub for local conservation action. Fraser Coast Branch has been a strong community advocate against inappropriate developments such as the Torquay Towers project, pushing for wildlife-sensitive planning and coastal habitat protection through submissions, public engagement, and on-ground restoration. On the Sunshine Coast, the branch has led advocacy on multiple development threats, most notably the Coolum Creek proposal, writing to Ministers and calling for stronger protection of koala habitat, riparian corridors, and biodiversity values while rallying local community support.
Strengthening our organisation
Behind the scenes, we continue to build a stronger foundation for Wildlife Queensland. This month, we were pleased to appoint Amy Hyslop as our new Leader of Communications and Fundraising, bringing more than a decade of experience in community engagement and fundraising. Amy will be pivotal in growing a contemporary, values-driven program to expand our reach and impact.
We are also modernising our systems, from digitising archives and progressing governance reforms to launching a new bequests video campaign on SBS On Demand and across our channels. These steps are helping us grow sustainably while ensuring we remain focused on our mission.
As spring unfolds, these combined efforts reflect the breadth of Wildlife Queensland’s impact. Thank you for your support, which continues to make all of this possible.
Best regards,
John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
Wildlife Queensland
August 2025
Dear friends of Wildlife Queensland,
This month has brought new milestones, fresh challenges, and opportunities that remind us why our mission to protect wildlife, influence decisions, and engage communities is more vital than ever.
Protecting wildlife
August also saw a major step forward with Weranga Scarps Nature Reserve formally recognised as Queensland’s first Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure (OECM). This milestone, made possible through the commitment of Wildlife Land Fund Ltd, demonstrates how privately managed land can deliver lasting benefits for wildlife outside the formal protected area network. Recognition as an OECM highlights the conservation value of this landscape and strengthens the case for safeguarding similar areas across the state.
Thanks to Matt Cecil’s steady leadership and the tireless work of our staff, branches and volunteers, Wildlife Queensland is delivering over 14 projects. Our brush-tailed rock-wallaby program is showing promising signs of juvenile survival across 15,000 hectares of habitat, while surveys with local communities have led to new spotted-tailed quoll detections in the Scenic Rim and ignited grassroots involvement in monitoring. At the same time, cutting-edge monitoring using eDNA, acoustic sensors and detection dogs is deepening our understanding of greater and yellow-bellied gliders, and EchidnaWatch is continuing to build critical baseline data for echidna populations across the region with strong community and research partnerships.
The hidden lives of platypuses, Mary River Cod, lungfish and other freshwater species are about to be revealed, with Wildlife Queensland securing Resilient Rivers Initiative funding to expand environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring. This ground-breaking project will provide valuable data on where these species occur, an essential first step in their conservation and recovery, and provide insights that will strengthen the effectiveness of the major $30 million catchment restoration efforts planned across South East Queensland.
Together, these initiatives highlight the growing momentum of Wildlife Queensland’s conservation work and the vital role of collaboration in achieving long-term recovery for our state’s unique wildlife.
Influencing choices
Wildlife Queensland continues to ensure the needs of wildlife and ecosystems remain part of public and policy decision-making. In August, we responded to the 2022–23 Statewide Landcover and Trees Study (SLATS) report, reaffirming our call for stronger land clearing protections and habitat restoration. We are preparing a submission to the ACCC on the proposed Soft Plastics Stewardship Australia scheme, stressing the need for stronger conditions to ensure real impact. We are also contributing to the ‘Fresh Start for Private Protected Areas’ discussion paper, advocating for policy that reinforces biodiversity integrity, accountability, and inclusive partnerships. These efforts reflect our ongoing commitment to shaping policy that safeguards Queensland’s unique species and ecosystems.
Engaging communities
At the community level, our EchidnaWatch program held several field days in Ipswich, Logan and the Lockyer Valley, where volunteers learned to identify signs of echidna activity and contributed records that feed into long-term monitoring. PlatypusWatch also ran an observational survey at a South East Queensland waterway, giving participants the opportunity to search for signs of platypus activity and record sightings. In the Scenic Rim, our branch partnered with Wildlife Tourism Australia to present a webinar on the platypus and echidna, sparking conversations about protecting these remarkable species and their habitats.
On the people front, we were also pleased to welcome Jodie Blewett as Wildlife Queensland’s new Office Manager. With her outstanding skills, extensive experience and commitment, Jodie will play a key role in supporting our people and amplifying the impact of our work across Queensland.
As we move into September, we look forward to spring’s field surveys, community events and wildlife discoveries. We hope you’ll join us in the months ahead as we continue to shine a light on Queensland’s remarkable species and landscapes.
Thank you for your ongoing support, which enables us to continue this work, protecting wildlife, influencing decisions, and engaging communities across Queensland.
Kind regards,
Dr John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
July 2025
This month, we say goodbye to a treasured member of our team. After more than 16 years of dedicated service, our Operations Manager, Janelle Devery, is retiring. Janelle has been the calm, capable core of our organisation, and her commitment to wildlife and our wider community will be deeply missed. We have our fingers crossed she’ll return to volunteer down the track.
Wildlife Queensland continues to build momentum under our 2025–2030 Strategic Plan. As always, our mission of protecting wildlife continues to drive our efforts across the state. With 13 projects currently underway, we’re monitoring and supporting recovery actions for many species, including gliders, platypuses, echidnas, spotted-tailed quolls and brush-tailed rock-wallabies. Each initiative brings us closer to securing lasting outcomes for our native species and their habitats. To build on this momentum, our team has submitted seven new funding applications this month to broaden our reach and impact.
It was a busy month influencing choices at the policy level, including many state and local discussions on key priorities, and a meeting with the Queensland Government Minister on 23 July to present key advocacy priorities, focusing on stronger protections for threatened species and ecosystems. These conversations are essential for turning evidence into action and ensuring nature remains a priority in decision-making.
At the heart of everything we do is engaging communities. Throughout July, we held more than 15 community events, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet with many of our partners and branches to discuss our Strategic Plan, our priorities and projects, and to hear about the inspiring local work being done. The all-branches meeting on 14 July was a wonderful chance to exchange ideas on our future and strengthen connections. Also, our Fraser Coast Branch hosted a well-attended event featuring renowned turtle expert Dr Col Limpus. The evening sparked lively discussion about coastal conservation and the future of marine turtles in the region.
Thanks to our incredible supporters, I’m thrilled to report that our 2025 EOFY appeal has reached and surpassed our ambitious $100,000 goal. These funds will help us install nest boxes, conduct ongoing eDNA surveys to track endangered species, re-analyse biodiversity samples, and continue campaigning for stronger wildlife protections. Your generosity is powering real impact.
Also, congratulations to Sally Spain of the Gold Coast & Hinterland Branch, who received a nomination for the Queensland Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering Award from Volunteering QLD.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your continued support enables us to protect what matters most: our unique wildlife and the wild places they call home.
Kind regards,
John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland
June 2025
It is with deep gratitude that we bid farewell to our colleague, friend, mentor, and passionate campaign manager Des Boyland. Des’s unwavering commitment to wildlife conservation for over two decades and his invaluable contributions to our organisation are inspiring, and he’ll leave a strong legacy for us all. My sincere thanks, Des, for all your support.
The collective efforts of our team and supporters in advancing our mission in the last month has again been impressive. Wenda Shurety and Karin Cox have again done an amazing job in communications, and Matt Cecil’s Projects Team are moving from strength to strength. This was showcased at the recent Australian Mammal Society Conference in Toowoomba, where Dr Tamielle Brunt, Paul Revie, Maaike Hofman, Dr Kate Dutton-Regester and I caught up with colleagues and met some new ones, sharing some great insights on mammal research and conservation. It’s a busy time of year with budgets, appeals, and lots of field work.
Our branches have been actively involved in various initiatives:
- The Brisbane Branch hosted an engaging “Introduction to Nature Journaling” workshop, encouraging participants to connect with nature through art.
- The Townsville Branch enjoyed a rewarding trip to the top of Mount Stuart, encouraging community participation and appreciation for our natural scenery.
- The Fraser Coast Branch conducted informative talks on managing invasive Indian Mynas, highlighting community-led efforts in wildlife preservation.
We also enjoyed engaging with the community at the Logan Eco Action Festival (LEAF) on World Environment Day. Our stall was lively as we discussed our ongoing projects, sold birdwing butterfly vines to support the Richmond birdwing butterfly, and hosted a raffle.
Our recent online webinar, How to Create a Wildlife-Friendly Yard, co-hosted with Logan City Council, attracted over 160 registrants eager to transform their gardens into safe havens for native species. It’s inspiring to see such enthusiasm for backyard conservation.
We’re also working with other NGO groups on koala conservation, including, advocating for stronger legal safeguards to protect critical habitat, restoration of corridors between patches, support for koala-friendly practices on private urban and agricultural lands, and stronger engagement with community groups.
Your support is crucial to achieving all the above endeavours. Thank-you for all your efforts. If you are looking for more ways to contribute:
- Discover: Utilise platforms like iNaturalist to document and learn about local wildlife in your area.
- Get Involved: Participate in local events and workshops to deepen your understanding and connection to wildlife conservation.
- Donate: Your generous contributions have been instrumental in our efforts. Thank you! To all who have donated to our “Fighting for the Future” appeal we appreciate your support. It has been a great success. Your donations are essential for our survival and contribute directly to our vital work in protecting Queensland’s wildlife. It’s not too late to double your impact, with a big thanks to a very generous supporter.
For the latest updates on our projects and initiatives, please follow us on our social media channels. Together, we can make a meaningful difference.
Kind Regards,
John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
Wildlife Queensland
May 2025
This month, we celebrate the remarkable efforts and achievements of our Wildlife Queensland community throughout May. From engaging events to impactful conservation projects, your dedication continues to make a significant difference for our state’s unique wildlife.
I’m continually inspired by the commitment of our team, who, every day, take meaningful actions to protect species, influence policy and engage communities. Reflecting on May, it’s evident that our collective energy is driving positive change across the state.
Our branches have been active, fostering community involvement and education.
- The Fraser Coast Branch hosted a nature walk at Takura Environmental Reserve, offering participants insights into local ecosystems.
- In Brisbane, the branch is conducting an “Introduction to Nature Journaling” workshop, encouraging participants to connect with nature through art and observation.
- The Townsville Branch revisited the Clemant section of Paluma Range National Park, exploring coastal woodlands and discussing conservation efforts.
- The Bayside Branch held its Annual General Meeting featuring Geckoes Wildlife, providing members with updates and interactive wildlife experiences.
The PlatypusWatch Network, the Queensland Glider Network, and EchidnaWatch continue to make significant progress through conducting fieldwork, drafting reports, submitting grant applications and promoting conservation through community workshops and presentations.
I’d also like to congratulate Dr Phil Tucak on being awarded the 2025 Wayne Lawler Nature Photography Grant. It’s inspiring to see how his photography will support the conservation of the endangered numbat.
Our Chair, Marc Hockings, and I met with Minister Powell and Senior Department Staff to discuss ecotourism, threatened species, offsets, and bioregional planning, reaching an agreement to progress key actions this month (see summary here). We were encouraged by the positive discussions and the commitment to work with us and other conservation groups.
We remain focused and concerned about key decisions, including the Government’s broken pre-election promise not to defund the Environmental Defenders Office; the risks that a “fresh start” of native logging pose to endangered arboreal species, including the greater glider (Petauroides spp.), the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus), and the powerful owl (Ninox strenua); and the dangerous precedent set by the bill to parliament that would give the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority (GIICA) the power to override 15 planning laws, including Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992 and the federal Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. We’re keeping a close eye on these and other threats to nature, like the proposed development at Woogaroo Forest near Ipswich. I encourage you to join us in these petitions so that together we can stand against projects that could destroy important wildlife habitats.
As we near the end of the financial year, we need your support more than ever. Our Fight for the Future appeal aims to raise essential funds to continue our conservation efforts. Your tax-deductible donation will help us make a difference. Please consider donating today to help us secure a future for Queensland’s wildlife.
As we approach June, our dedication to conservation and community engagement stays strong. We invite you to join us in upcoming events and continue supporting our initiatives.
Thank you for being an integral part of this journey. Your support empowers us to protect Queensland’s wildlife for generations to come.
Kind regards,
Dr John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
Wildlife Queensland
April 2025
This month marks a special milestone—our 200th edition of Wildlife Queensland’s eBulletin. For over 20 years, this publication has helped us share stories from the field, celebrate conservation successes, and keep our supporters informed and inspired. Thank you for being part of that journey.
I am so privileged to be part of such an amazing team—champions for Queensland’s wildlife, making a difference every day with on-ground actions to protect wildlife, influence choices by government and the community, and engage communities. One month in, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the energy and progress we’ve seen across Wildlife Queensland’s projects and community events.
We celebrated a successful Hollow Havens event at the Redlands IndigiScapes Centre, where community members came together to learn about the vital role of hollow-bearing trees in supporting gliders, possums, owls and parrots. The event also highlighted how citizen science and nest box installations can help counteract the loss of hollows due to land clearing.
In Brisbane, our Into the Wild Trivia Night at the Carindale Hotel brought supporters together for a fun, fact-filled evening that raised both awareness and funds for wildlife conservation. The night was a wonderful example of how community spirit and conservation can go hand in hand.
Meanwhile, our team has been out in the field, collecting eDNA samples from tree hollows, monitoring camera traps, and working closely with government and community groups to protect key habitats. Some great things are happening with monitoring, research and recovery for so many of our most vulnerable species across the state. It’s great to see so much advocacy and action on the ground. The birdwing butterfly vines developed through Wildlife Queensland’s trellis design, present another example, planted as part of the M1 Motorway upgrade, helping to reconnect habitat for the vulnerable Richmond birdwing butterfly.
We have also been strengthening our advocacy at the state level:
- preparing submissions and building partnerships to ensure that Queensland’s native species and ecosystems are valued in decision-making
- including a focus on engaging communities in key decisions
- making off-sets and biodiversity targets more meaningful for threatened species prioritisation and recovery
- and active engagement on ecotourism.
None of this would be possible without your support.
Big thanks to our 13 branches and all our 18,000 supporters – I can see the actions and activities you are taking are having a such an impact for the future of our threatened species.
Thank you for being part of this important journey with us.
Kind regards,
Dr John Tracey
Chief Executive Officer
Wildlife Queensland

