Inquiry Activity

Introduced Species:
Fluffy Ferals and Prickly
Pests
Prepare for Inquiry
As you complete the following activities, consider the following question:

How did colonial settlement change the environment?

Make Predictions
Write down at least five (5) animals or plants that are native to Australia in the column
on the left. On the right, write up to five (5) animals or plants that are not native to
Australia on the right.

Native animals and plants Introduced animals and plants

wattle tree rabbit

Make a prediction about what may happen to native animals and plants when new
species are introduced and why they were introduced in the first place.

Learn about the Introduced Species in Australia

Watch the video Introduced Species: Fluffy Ferals
and Prickly Pests to learn about how colonial
settlement changed the environment.

Complete the interactive video questions while

watching individually or as a class. This will
prepare you for the classroom activities that
follow.

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Researching and Questioning
1. The plant and animals mentioned in the video and on the Source Card were introduced
to solve problems that the European settlers believed they had. Fill out the table on the
worksheet with the solutions and outcomes for each problem.

Problem Solution Outcome

What plant or animal did What did this plant or

What was the problem or
they introduce to solve animal do to the
issue?
this problem or issue? environment?

Settlers wanted to
establish a cochineal dye
industry in Australia.

Settlers wanted access to

food they were familiar
with back home.

Settlers needed an animal

to help them travel the
large and dry distances of
the outback.

2. Answer the questions below using the information on the source card.

Why were Acclimatisation Societies established in Australia?

Why were camels so well adapted to life in the outback?

What were the insects found on the prickly pear plant used for?

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Analysing
Think. Pair. Share

Camels are considered a pest in Australia today. However, they played a large part in the
exploration and development of the country. Considering this, do you think camels should
have been introduced to Australia?

Evaluating and Reflecting

The Acclimatisation Societies of the 1800s brought many exotic plants and animals to
Australia. They released birds into the wild and fish into the rivers.

Based on what you know from the video and the Source Card, what do you think could be
some potential issues of introducing birds into the environment?

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Communicating
Imagine you are an environmental scientist in the 1930s. You are working with a group of
people who are considering bringing the cane toad to Australia.

Using information found on the video and the Source Card about the damage other
introduced species have caused, write a short persuasive speech to argue against the
introduction of the cane toad.

Present your speech to your friends or classmates. Ask them if they were persuaded by
your speech.

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