Five of these species are officially threatened and face increasing pressure from urban expansion and rural development. 

Despite their vulnerability, conservation efforts are hindered by outdated recovery plans and a lack of accurate population data. 

PROTECT Tasmania is launching an innovative conservation project to protect these species - and they need YOUR help!

Five Tasmanian species are listed under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 (TSPA) and the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBCA):

1. Central North burrowing crayfish - Endangered

2. Furneaux burrowing crayfish - Endangered

3. Scottsdale burrowing crayfish - Endangered

4. Mt. Arthur burrowing crayfish - Vulnerable

5. Burnie burrowing crayfish - Vulnerable

Currently, identifying these crayfish requires digging up their burrows, destroying both the animal and its habitat in the process. Quite simply, we can’t protect what we can’t see. 

PROTECT Tasmania is launching an innovative conservation project to help these extraordinary little creatures. 

Building on new transformative solutions, by analysing just a teaspoon of soil, scientists can identify species without disturbing them. 

Once developed, the test will only cost around $150 per sample, making environmental assessments to detect their presence cost-effective and accurate.

Project Tasmania are aiming to raise $30,000 to develop this breakthrough surveying teqnique, to help protect these five threatened burrowing species.

READ MORE & DONATE HERE