A Nationwide Conservation Effort
The Great Australian Wildlife Search is a collaborative effort between the Odonata Foundation, EnviroDNA, and the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Using pioneering DNA detection techniques, this partnership aims to establish a baseline for the health of aquatic species throughout Australia.
This initiative represents a transformative step in conservation both domestically and globally, enabling the identification and preservation of critical ecological areas. Thanks to targeted conservation and cleanup efforts, we can protect vital habitats more efficiently.
With the invaluable participation of citizen scientists, we will collect and analyse unprecedented data on some of Australia’s most endangered and elusive species, including the platypus and the growling grass frog.
We invite all Australians to contribute to the safeguarding of our aquatic wildlife for future generations, either by becoming a citizen scientist or supporting the program through donations.
Program Partners
Odonata Foundation is an Australian environmental not-for-profit on a mission to end native species extinction. Since inception, they have been instrumental in changing the extinction trajectory of both the Eastern Quoll and the Southern Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby. Their work has also supported the down-listing of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot from extinct in the wild to endangered, and has also established Australia’s leading Bush Stone-curlew breeding program.
Odonata has created a wealth of successful sanctuaries and nature-based businesses and has more recently launched the Great Australian Wildlife Search to map and track threatened species habitats and health, to better inform future conservation efforts.
EnviroDNA launched in 2016 to pioneer the delivery of eDNA services to industry. Today, they operate as leaders in research and application, monitoring aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems across Australia and abroad. They are science-driven professionals delivering comprehensive data and tailored solutions in areas such as conservation, biosecurity, impact assessments, and research.
EnviroDNA is thrilled to be partnering with Odonata Foundation to deliver the Great Australian Wildlife Search.
To learn all about eDNA technology in under two minutes, check out this video:
Funding Partners
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is a proud financial and project partner of the Great Australian Wildlife Search.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is an independent statutory agency in the Australian Government, responsible for working with Basin states, industries and communities to manage the Murray–Darling Basin’s water resources.
The MDBA is committed to taking a whole-of-Basin view to ensure all social, economic, environmental and cultural perspectives are considered as they work to protect Australia’s rivers for generations.
Through the MDBA’s support of the Great Australian Wildlife Search, during the spring 2023 season 420 free testing sites are now available to citizen scientists. The MDBA will also support the program’s development and the establishment of future seasons of testing.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our esteemed program partners whose unwavering support has been instrumental in the success of the Great Australian Wildlife Search. A special thank you to our valued program partners for their unwavering support:
La Trobe University
NSW Government - Department of Planning and Environment, Department of Primary Industries, and Local Land Services NSW
VIC Government - Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, and Catchment Management Authorities Victoria, and Carbon Landscapes
SA Government - Department of Primary Industries, South Australian Research & Development Institute, Landscapes SA, and Nature Glenelg Trust
QLD Government - Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Trust for Nature, Wildlife Queensland, and Platypus Watch Queensland
ACT Government - Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development, and ACT Natural Resource Management