Near threatened and least concern species

Near threatened

A species is classed as near threatened if:

• the population size or distribution of the wildlife is small and may become smaller, or
• the population size of the wildlife has declined, or is likely to decline, at a rate higher than the usual rate for population changes for the wildlife, or
• the survival of the wildlife in the wild is affected to an extent that the wildlife is in danger of becoming vulnerable (as defined above)
• native wildlife may also be classed as near threatened if they are the subject of a threatening process.

Least concern species

The criteria for declaring a species as least concern are if:

• the wildlife is common or abundant and is likely to survive in the wild.

Native wildlife may be prescribed as least concern wildlife even if:

• the wildlife is the subject of a threatening process; or
• the population size or distribution of the wildlife has declined; or
• there is insufficient information about the wildlife to conclude whether the wildlife is common or abundant or likely to survive in the wild.

The Governor in Council may classify a species as least concern by amending the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulations 2020 where the above criteria under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 have been met.

All animals previously listed as Common are now listed as Least Concern.

All plants, birds, reptiles and amphibians indigenous to Australia, other than those that are extinct, extinct in the wild, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable or near threatened wildlife, are least concern wildlife.

View a list of least concern invertebrates and mammals in Queensland.

Related information

• View recent changes to the classification of Queensland wildlife
• Make a nomination for a species (DOCX, 198KB) to be assigned to the least concern wildlife category