In Australia we have many plants and animals that are unique to our natural environment. However, because of changes made in the ecosystems of Australia since European settlement, many of these species have already disappeared and many more are in danger of extinction. Changing our natural ecosystems because we want to use the land for farming, recreation, industry or housing means that the natural living places of many species are removed. Many of the species introduced into Australia not only prey on native animals and plants but also compete with native animals for food, shelter, and the area they live in, or destroy the habitat of native plants.

The best method of protecting endangered animals or plants is to conserve their habitat and to remove introduced predators. Breeding programs carried out in zoos and botanical gardens can preserve populations of animals and plants that are genetically varied. Some of these organisms bred in this way may even be reintroduced to areas where the populations have disappeared.

The release of the endangered marsupial, the chuditch, in Western Australia is an example of a successful program of this type.

http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/news/NewsData/html/925704753.html

Many recovery programs for endangered species have considered the use of cloning and some have already taken steps to freeze tissue samples from a wide range of individuals to create a gene bank for the species as a first step to conserve the genetic diversity of these dwindling populations. This step is an attempt to provide an insurance against future catastrophes that would further deplete those critically endangered populations. In most cases there is no intention yet to attempt cloning. Imagine the situation if it had been possible to create a gene bank for thylacine or dinosaur species before they became extinct!

The fear for many conservationists is that cloning may be seen as the easy way out compared with attempting to solve the problems caused by increasing human populations and destruction of the living places of native plants and animals.