<P> Over a hundred species of fauna are currently under serious threat of extinction . The plight of some of these species receives more attention than others and recently the focus of many conservation organisations has been the critically endangered northern hairy - nosed wombat, the endangered Tasmanian devil, northern tiger quoll, south eastern red - tailed black cockatoo, southern cassowary, Tasmanian wedge - tailed eagle, Leadbeater's possum and southern corroboree frog . </P> <P> Australia has a poor record of conservation of native fauna . The extinction of Australian megafauna is attributed to the arrival of humans and since European settlement, 23 birds, 4 frogs, and 27 mammal species are also known to have become extinct . </P> <P> One of the notable issues with marine conservation in Australia is the protection of the Great Barrier Reef . The Great Barrier Reef's environmental pressures include water quality from runoff, climate change and mass coral bleaching, cyclic outbreaks of the crown - of - thorns starfish, overfishing, and shipping accidents . </P> <P> Whaling in Australia took place from colonisation in 1788 . In 1979 Australia terminated whaling and committed to whale protection . The main varieties hunted were humpback, blue, right and sperm whales . </P>

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