Imagine a species declared extinct, only to be found alive years later, yet still denied legal protection. This bizarre scenario is a reality for some Australian plants and animals, trapped in a legal gray area that leaves them vulnerable to extinction—again. It’s a bureaucratic nightmare that turns the concept of 'rediscovery' into a double-edged sword.
Take the case of Gould’s mouse, a species believed extinct for over a century. In a twist worthy of a sci-fi novel, genetic research revealed it’s the same as the Djoongari, a living mouse found in Shark Bay and a mainland reserve. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite this revelation, the Australian government still lists Gould’s mouse as extinct and the Djoongari as vulnerable—two names for the same creature. Shouldn’t science trump bureaucracy when it comes to saving species?
Fortunately, the Djoongari benefits from federal funding because it was initially listed as vulnerable under a different name. But other species aren’t so lucky. Three plants recently rediscovered in Western Australia and Queensland remain in a zombie-like legal limbo, officially extinct at the national level despite their rediscovery. Is it fair to leave these species unprotected simply because the law hasn’t caught up with reality?
Plant conservation ecologist Chantelle Doyle calls this a glaring legal gap. 'You’d think a rediscovered species would automatically gain protection,' she explains. 'But they’re treated as non-entities, left without resources for conservation or research.' Doyle, a researcher at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), warns the situation could worsen if states also list these species as extinct. 'Land could be cleared or developed without anyone checking,' she says. Are we risking irreversible loss while we wait for the law to adapt?
The problem isn’t limited to federal lists. Doyle’s study in Austral Ecology found similar delays in New South Wales’ state-level extinction list. For example, the saltbush Atriplex acutiloba was rediscovered three times in six years, yet its extinct status in NSW remains unchanged. Co-author Frank Hemmings speculates the plant may only appear after heavy rains, making its rediscovery fleeting. Shouldn’t ephemeral species like this warrant immediate protection?
Doyle and her team propose two solutions: treat extinct species as threatened until proven otherwise, or adopt Western Australia’s model, where rediscovered species are instantly relisted as threatened. But when ABC Science asked Environment Minister Murray Watt’s office about reforming national legislation, the response was vague, with reforms tabled but no changes for rediscovered species. Is this a missed opportunity to fix a broken system?
As we celebrate rediscoveries, the legal limbo persists. Gould’s mouse, the Esperance dog weed, and other species remain caught between science and bureaucracy. What will it take to ensure their survival? And do you think governments are doing enough to close this loophole? Let’s spark a conversation—because the clock is ticking for these living dead species.
