Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland

The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland, commonly known as Wildlife Queensland, is an Australian not-for-profit conservation organisation based in Queensland. Established in 1962, it was created by people concerned about the destruction of natural environments and the need for continuing public education about wildlife and conservation. Its founding group included writer and environmental campaigner Judith Wright, Brian Clouston, naturalist David Fleay and conservationist Kathleen MacArthur. Wildlife Queensland operates as a community-based organisation rather than as a commercial product company. Its work combines public advocacy, environmental education, citizen science, habitat protection, policy submissions and support for local conservation initiatives. The organisation works with community groups, schools, government departments, private landholders, businesses, researchers and volunteers. It has supporters, members and volunteers across Queensland, with head-office operations in Brisbane and branches in other parts of the state. The organisation describes itself as Queensland's oldest and largest wildlife-focused conservation group. During its history it has participated in major environmental debates involving coastal areas, islands, forests, waterways and threatened species. Early campaigns addressed the protection of the Great Barrier Reef, the Hinchinbrook Channel and Fraser Island. Its advocacy contributed to broader efforts to secure protective planning and legislation for significant habitats, including opposition to limestone mining and oil drilling on the Great Barrier Reef and campaigns against logging and sand-mining on Fraser Island. Wildlife Queensland's constitutional objectives include preserving Australian fauna and flora by lawful means; educating the community, especially young people, about conservation principles; opposing unnecessary destruction, exploitation and development of the natural environment; and encouraging rational land use and sound planning. Its campaigns and submissions are informed by policies debated and developed by members, including policies concerning biodiversity, population, water and land management. A distinctive feature of the organisation is its emphasis on community participation. Projects such as the Queensland Glider Network, QuollSeekers Network, Richmond Birdwing Conservation Network, EchidnaWatch, PlatypusWatch, MangroveWatch, Seagrass-Watch and FaunaWatch involve residents and volunteers in observation, monitoring, research, habitat work and public education. These programs focus on improving knowledge of species and ecosystems while providing information that can support conservation planning. The Ornate Rainbowfish Project similarly seeks to locate populations and suitable habitat for a threatened native fish. Wildlife Queensland also communicates through its website, publications, the nature journal Wildlife Australia, educational presentations, excursions, special events and community days. It has used events such as Batty Boat Cruises to connect public engagement with wildlife awareness. Its Student Research Grants Program supports applied conservation research by Queensland university students, while annual awards recognise regional campaigns, community projects and outstanding contributions by members. Overall, the organisation's identity is based on independent, community-supported conservation advocacy, with a focus on Queensland wildlife, habitat protection and environmental education.

The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland emerged from growing concern in the early 1960s about the destruction of Australian natural environments and the limited public understanding of wildlife conservation. Judith Wright, Brian Clouston, David Fleay and Kathleen MacArthur founded the organisation in 1962 as a community-based, non-profit society. Its original purpose was both practical and educational: to preserve fauna and flora, encourage informed community participation and promote a more responsible approach to development and land use. The society's early work placed it within Queensland's developing conservation movement. It campaigned on the protection of major natural areas and helped draw public and political attention to the Great Barrier Reef, the Hinchinbrook Channel and Fraser Island. Its advocacy covered both specific development proposals and wider questions of planning, habitat protection and environmental legislation. The organisation later identified its contribution to campaigns that opposed limestone mining and oil drilling affecting the Great Barrier Reef, as well as campaigns against logging and sand-mining on Fraser Island. The Great Barrier Reef was listed as a World Heritage area in 1981, although the organisation's role formed part of a broader conservation movement rather than a single-organisation achievement. Over time, Wildlife Queensland broadened its work from place-based campaigning to species conservation, community monitoring and formal policy development. Members debated and prepared organisational policies on biodiversity, population, water and other conservation issues. These policies provided a basis for submissions to government departments and for public campaigns concerning proposed changes to land, marine and wildlife management. The organisation has also advocated for particular species and against practices it considered damaging, including commercial shooting of whiptail wallabies, recreational hunting of duck and quail, gillnetting and proposals for targeted killing of rays and sharks. Education has remained central to the organisation's identity. Wildlife Queensland has shared information through its website, publications, the Wildlife Australia nature journal, school and community presentations, excursions, special events and local branches. Community participation has been structured through volunteer fieldwork, observation programs, research activities and conservation education days. This approach allows residents to contribute records and local knowledge while developing a stronger public understanding of native species and ecosystems. The organisation's project portfolio has included programs for gliders, quolls, the Richmond birdwing butterfly, echidnas, platypuses, mangroves, seagrass communities and other Queensland fauna. The Queensland Glider Network promotes awareness of glider habitat requirements and supports community knowledge and research. QuollSeekers gathers information about quoll populations. The Richmond Birdwing Conservation Network links individuals and organisations working to protect the butterfly and its host plants. EchidnaWatch, PlatypusWatch and FaunaWatch collect sightings and distribution data, while MangroveWatch and Seagrass-Watch monitor coastal ecosystem condition. The Ornate Rainbowfish Project focuses on locating populations and habitat that may be important to the species' survival. Wildlife Queensland has also invested in the next generation of conservation practitioners through a Student Research Grants Program for Queensland university students. The program supports applied projects concerning threatened species, habitats, biodiversity and other conservation outcomes. Annual recognition events celebrate successful regional campaigns, community projects and notable member contributions, including the Margaret Thorsborne Award. The organisation remains an active Queensland conservation network with a presence in Brisbane and branches throughout the state. Its continuing model combines volunteer participation, memberships, donations, research, education and advocacy. Rather than selling conventional consumer products, Wildlife Queensland offers a platform through which communities can contribute to wildlife knowledge, environmental debate and practical conservation outcomes.

• 1981

  Great Barrier Reef receives World Heritage listing

  [1]Wildlife Preservation Society of Queenslanden.wikipedia.org

  The Great Barrier Reef was listed as a World Heritage area following decades of conservation advocacy and broader public and governmental action.

• 1967

  Great Barrier Reef protection campaign

  [1]Wildlife Preservation Society of Queenslanden.wikipedia.org

  Wildlife Queensland participated in an early campaign to protect the Great Barrier Reef, working with conservationists including Judith Wright and Margaret Thorsborne.

• 1962

  Organisation founded

  [1]Wildlife Preservation Society of Queenslanden.wikipedia.org

  Judith Wright, Brian Clouston, David Fleay and Kathleen MacArthur established the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland as a community-based, non-profit conservation organisation.

An independent, community-based Queensland conservation organisation combining wildlife advocacy, environmental education, citizen science and habitat protection.

• Species conservation network

  Queensland Glider Network

  A community conservation network focused on Queensland gliders. It raises awareness of glider ecology and habitat needs, encourages community involvement and supports the collection and sharing of information relevant to glider research and protection.

• Species monitoring network

  QuollSeekers Network

  A Wildlife Queensland network established to gather information about quoll populations and support the continued existence of quolls through community knowledge, monitoring and conservation engagement.

• Species and habitat conservation network

  Richmond Birdwing Conservation Network

  A partnership of individuals, community groups and organisations working to conserve the Richmond birdwing butterfly and protect the plants on which its life cycle depends, including the Richmond birdwing vine and mountain aristolochia.

• Citizen science program

  EchidnaWatch

  A program that compiles information about echidna distribution in Queensland. Public observations are shared with relevant wildlife information systems, communities and other organisations to improve understanding of this elusive monotreme.

• Citizen science program

  PlatypusWatch

  A community-based program documenting locations where platypuses occur. The collected observations are intended to create a more reliable picture of platypus populations and inform conservation attention.

• Coastal ecosystem monitoring program

  MangroveWatch

  A community monitoring initiative designed to track the health of mangroves in Moreton Bay and improve awareness of changes affecting this important coastal ecosystem.

• Coastal ecosystem monitoring program

  Seagrass-Watch

  A monitoring and awareness program focused on the condition and trends of seagrass populations. It is intended to help identify significant coastal environmental changes at an early stage.

• Citizen science program

  FaunaWatch

  A program that collects and compiles wildlife sightings submitted by community volunteers. The information can help identify changes in fauna distribution or abundance and support the development of protection plans.

• Species conservation project

  Ornate Rainbowfish Project

  A conservation project focused on the ornate rainbowfish. Its work includes locating remaining populations and identifying potentially suitable habitat to support efforts to prevent the species from becoming extinct.

• Research support program

  Student Research Grants Program

  A grant program for students at Queensland universities. It supports applied research into threatened native species, habitats, vegetation communities, regional ecosystems and practical methods for improving conservation outcomes.

• 1967Great Barrier Reef protection campaign

  Queensland · Australia

  Wildlife Queensland participated in a campaign to protect the Great Barrier Reef from damaging industrial development, including concerns about limestone mining and oil drilling.

  Outcome. The reef was later listed as a World Heritage area in 1981 as part of a wider conservation and governmental process.

  Source
• Fraser Island protection campaign

  Queensland · Australia

  The organisation campaigned against logging and sand-mining on Fraser Island, advocating protection of the island's natural habitats.

  Outcome. The campaign is described as contributing to successful efforts to stop logging and sand-mining on Fraser Island.

  Source
• Hinchinbrook Channel protection

  Queensland · Australia

  Wildlife Queensland was involved in early conservation campaigns concerning the protection of the Hinchinbrook Channel and its surrounding natural environment.

  Source
• Whiptail wallaby protection

  Queensland · Australia

  The organisation advocated against commercial shooting of whiptail wallabies in Queensland.

  Outcome. Commercial shooting of whiptail wallabies in Queensland was stopped.

  Source
• Duck and quail hunting campaign

  Queensland · Australia

  Wildlife Queensland campaigned against recreational hunting of duck and quail in Queensland.

  Outcome. The organisation describes its effort as successful in helping stop recreational hunting of these birds in Queensland.

  Source
• Marine netting and ray and shark protection advocacy

  Queensland · Australia

  The organisation campaigned against the introduction of gillnetting and against proposals for targeted killing of rays and sharks.

  Source

1. 1Wildlife Preservation Society of Queenslanden.wikipedia.org
2. 2Wildlife Queenslandwildlife.org.au