Native Plants & Animals

The Cassowary Coast is home to rich rainforest, coastal and wetland habitats that support some of Queensland’s most iconic native species. Council works with various stakeholders to protect these environments and ensure wildlife can thrive alongside our growing communities.

Council participates in species recovery programs and habitat restoration projects that focus on stabilising damaged areas, reconnecting wildlife corridors and improving biodiversity across reserves, waterways and coastal zones. This work is supported by ongoing monitoring, revegetation, weed control and partnerships with Traditional Owners, Conservation and Community Groups, wildlife carers and specialists and other local groups who play an important role in community stewardship and rehabilitation.

Education is also a core part of our approach. Council provides public information, community workshops and promotes access to materials from the QLD Government such as the Living with Wildlife information website to help residents understand how to coexist safely with native species. Responsible pet ownership, careful driving in known wildlife areas and wildlife friendly fencing options all help reduce avoidable harm.

Council also promotes wildlife friendly property management. Simple actions such as responsible pet ownership, careful driving in wildlife areas and choosing safer fencing options can significantly reduce harm to native animals. Residents can learn more about practical fencing guidelines here:
Wildlife Friendly Fencing – Terrain NRM
https://terrain.org.au/wildlife-friendly-fencing/

Council supports the community in meeting their responsibilities under the Biosecurity Act 2014 and provides guidance on managing invasive plants and animals that threaten local ecosystems. More detail is available on our Invasive Plants and Pest Animals page.

Council also encourages the community to report pollution, illegal dumping or activities affecting wildlife through the QLD Pollution Hotline: 1300 130 372 or Council’s Customer Service team.

Below are key contacts for injured or distressed wildlife in the Cassowary Coast. Residents should not attempt to handle wildlife unless advised by a qualified carer.

Wildlife Rescue Contacts

• FNQ Wildlife Rescue
  24 hour phone: 0488 773 334
  All native wildlife

• Mission Beach Wildcare Inc.
  24 hour phone: 0439 687 272
  Wallabies, pademelons, possums, gliders, raptors, birds, snakes, frogs, bats, echidnas, bandicoots and more

• Frog Safe
  Phone: (07) 4006 3784
  Frogs and tadpoles

• Department of Environment, Sustainability and Innovation (DESI)
  Hotline: 1300 130 372
  Cassowaries and crocodiles

If you are ever unsure, please call Council for further information and support. 

The Cassowary Coast contains several significant and threatened ecosystem types recognised under both state and national frameworks. These include areas of lowland tropical rainforest, littoral rainforest and coastal vine thickets, and broad-leaf tea-tree woodlands and wetland systems. Some of these communities are listed nationally under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) due to their high conservation value and vulnerability to decline. These ecosystems are essential for biodiversity, wildlife habitat, cultural values and climate resilience, yet many have been reduced or fragmented through clearing, development pressures, invasive species and natural disturbance. Protecting and restoring these habitats remains a key focus for conservation and land management across the Cassowary Coast.

Featured Favourites: 

Ant Plant (Myrmecodia beccarii)
A remarkable epiphyte that grows on mangroves and coastal paperbark trees. Its swollen, chambered caudex houses ant colonies that protect the plant from herbivores. Listed as Vulnerable at national and state level.

Queensland Walnut (Endiandra palmerstonii)
A major traditional food source across the rainforest region. The large nuts were processed, leached and cooked to remove natural toxins, providing a reliable, high-energy food. Considered one of the most important rainforest bush foods.

Cassowary Plum (Cerbera floribunda)
A striking tree with blue-purple fruit that is toxic to humans but essential food for cassowaries. The species plays a major role in long-distance seed dispersal across rainforest landscapes.

Lewis' Helicia (Helicia lewisensis)
A rare rainforest tree found only in the Wet Tropics of north Queensland. It grows in upland and mid-elevation rainforest and is listed as Vulnerable due to its restricted range and sensitivity to habitat loss. Its presence highlights the importance of protecting intact rainforest corridors in the Cassowary Coast region.

Want to Learn More? Great Plant Resources

To explore, identify or learn about native rainforest plants, check these trusted resources:

• Australian Tropical Herbarium — a comprehensive online and scientific reference for tropical rainforest plants, widely used by researchers and conservationists. ATH+1

• Rainforest Plants of Australia App — a handy smartphone/online tool to help identify rainforest trees, shrubs, vines and palms from photos or simple features. Land for Wildlife+1

• Fruits of the Australian Tropical Rainforest and local guides such as Cassowary Food Trees for Revegetation — great for people interested in wildlife habitat, revegetation and food trees that support native fauna. (Books can be purchase at C4 in Mission Beach, Djiu Country)

• EPBC Act – Threatened Ecological Communities
  https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/biodiversity/threatened/communities

• Wet Tropics Management Authority – Threatened Ecosystems and Species
  https://www.wettropics.gov.au

The Cassowary Coast is home to some of Australia’s most remarkable wildlife. Our rainforests, wetlands, coastlines and islands support many species found only in north Queensland, including several that are listed as threatened. Protecting this biodiversity is a shared responsibility and an important part of our work as a region surrounded by World Heritage rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef.

To help protect vulnerable species and their habitats, Council works alongside Traditional Owners, Queensland Government agencies, recovery teams, research organisations and community groups. These partnerships support long-term monitoring, habitat restoration, threat reduction and community education across the region.

Featured Favourites: 

Dingoes

Dingoes remain an important part of north Queensland’s natural and cultural landscape. Safe behaviour around dingoes helps protect both wildlife and people. The Girringun Dingo Decree provides guidance grounded in Traditional Owner knowledge and cultural values.
Learn more: Dingo Decree Girringun Aboriginal Corporation

Southern Cassowary

The cassowary is one of the Wet Tropics’ most iconic and important animals. It disperses the seeds of many rainforest plants and depends on safe habitat corridors to move between feeding areas. Residents can support cassowaries by driving carefully, keeping dogs contained and avoiding feeding any wildlife.
Learn more: Cassowary Recovery Team

Mahogany Glider

Found only in a narrow strip of north Queensland, the mahogany glider is a priority species for conservation. Protecting and reconnecting woodland habitat is vital for its survival, and several recovery actions are underway with support from researchers and local partners.
Learn more: Mahogany Glider Recovery Team, or the Recovery Plan

Spectacled Flying Fox

A key pollinator and seed disperser in the Wet Tropics. Flying fox colonies are sensitive to heat and habitat stress, and community reporting helps wildlife carers respond during extreme events.
Learn more: Spectacled Flying-fox Recovery Team

Little Tern

These small seabirds nest on open sandy beaches and are easily disturbed during breeding season. Monitoring programs with BirdLife Australia help protect nests and track population trends.
Learn more: Little Tern Program: Birdlife Australia

Sea Turtles

Several species of marine turtles visit and nest along the north Queensland coast, including green, flatback and hawksbill turtles. Protecting nesting beaches helps give hatchlings the best chance of survival, and residents can support this by keeping beaches clear, not driving vehicles on beaches, reducing light near the shore and reporting any nest sightings.

Learn more: Queensland Marine Turtle Conservation Strategy 2021–2031

For a list of all native wildlife found within the Cassowary Coast Regional follow the link below:

Native wildlife of Cassowary Coast local government area

Working Together on Species Recovery

Across the Cassowary Coast, Council contributes to threatened-species work through:

• habitat restoration and corridor planting

• local monitoring programs and citizen-science support

• partnerships with Traditional Owners

• support for state and national threatened-species recovery plans

• community education and wildlife-awareness programs

These actions help maintain healthy ecosystems and support the long-term survival of species unique to our region.

Get Involved: Citizen Science and Wildlife Reporting

You can help protect the region’s wildlife by contributing your sightings, photos and observations through trusted reporting tools and volunteer programs. These platforms support real conservation work, from tracking cassowary movements to monitoring coastal birds and recording turtle activity.

Reporting and Identification Tools

• QWildlife App
  Report cassowary, crocodile and turtle sightings directly to Queensland Government. Follow the link below to download now. 
  QWildlife app link

• iNaturalist
  Record plants and animals anywhere in the Cassowary Coast or the world and contribute to global biodiversity data.
  iNaturalist link

Volunteer Monitoring Programs

• PIP and TIPS Counts
  Join BirdLife Australia’s seasonal shorebird monitoring programs and help count the once near extinct Torresian Imperial Pigeon, or survey other nesting species such as the Little Tern.
  BirdLife Volunteer Opportunities

• Cassowary Sightings (C4)
  Community reporting through Mission Beach Community for Cassowary Conservation (C4) helps map cassowary movements and identify hotspots for road safety and habitat restoration.
  Cassowary Sighting Report

More Ways to Contribute

• Join local wildlife or Landcare groups

• Explore volunteer opportunities

• Attend environmental workshops and citizen-science events

• Share responsible wildlife behaviour with visitors and neighbours

Estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles are a natural part of north Queensland’s coastal rivers, creeks and wetlands. They have lived in these waters far longer than people (well over 100 million years) and play an important role as top predators that help keep ecosystems healthy. Living safely with crocodiles is an essential part of life in the Cassowary Coast and the wider FNQ region.

The Queensland Government manages crocodiles across the state and leads all investigation, compliance and removal actions. Council supports public awareness and encourages residents and visitors to stay informed and report sightings.

Why Crocodiles Matter

Crocodiles help maintain healthy estuaries by controlling prey populations and keeping wetland ecosystems in balance. They are culturally important to Traditional Owners and contribute to the region’s natural identity. Learning to coexist safely protects both people and this ancient species.

Stay Safe: Be Crocwise

No waterway in crocodile country is ever completely free of risk. You can reduce your chances of an incident by following simple Be Crocwise behaviours:

• Stay well back from the water’s edge

• Never swim in rivers, creeks, mangroves or other crocodile habitat

• Keep dogs on a lead and away from the water

• Avoid launching or retrieving boats in the dark

• Never clean fish or leave scraps near the water

• Dispose of fish frames properly or freeze them for later use

Leaving bait, fish frames or food waste at ramps, jetties or riverbanks attracts crocodiles and increases the risk of dangerous encounters. Feeding crocodiles, intentionally or accidentally, is illegal and carries significant fines.

Respecting Wildlife

Crocodiles are powerful apex predators that deserve caution and respect. They are an important part of Queensland’s natural heritage. Appreciating their role in local waterways helps protect people, pets and wildlife.

Report Sightings

All crocodile sightings in Queensland must be reported directly to the State Government. Use:

• QWildlife App (recommended for quick GPS-linked reporting)

• CrocWatch Hotline: 1300 130 372

These tools can also be used to report cassowaries and marine turtles.

The Queensland Government investigates every report and takes action only when a crocodile poses a risk to public safety.

Useful Links

• Queensland Crocodile Management Plan:
  https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/animals/living-with/crocodiles/management-plan

• Be Crocwise Guidelines:
  https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/animals/living-with/crocodiles/becrocwise

• QWildlife App (sightings):
  https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/wildlife-permits/wildlife-app

• Crocodile Sightings Map:
  https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/plants-animals/animals/living-with/crocodiles/crocodile-sightings

 

 

Marine stingers are present in North Queensland waters during the warmer months, typically from October to May. Before swimming, you can check the Surf Life Saving Queensland stinger updates to see whether beach swimming enclosures (stinger nets) are in place or temporarily removed.

When nets are installed, swimming inside the enclosure is strongly recommended. Protective clothing, such as stinger suits or long-sleeved swimwear, provides an extra level of safety during stinger season.

Stinger net enclosures on the Cassowary Coast are located at:

• Etty Bay (Innisfail)

• Kurrimine Beach

• North Mission Beach

• South Mission Beach

The Cassowary Coast also has public swimming pools at Innisfail, Tully, Mission Beach and Cardwell.

If you are looking for stinger-free alternatives, the region is home to a number of freshwater swimming holes and waterfalls. Explore options here:
Tropical North Queensland – Cassowary Coast Waterfalls & Swimming Spots

But remember: always check local signage, water conditions and safety warnings, and remain Crocwise around all waterways in the region.