Module 14

OHT 10

Statement

Source: J Ellis, 1994, Australia's Aboriginal Heritage, Collins Dove.

"It is significant that in 40 000 years or more of the occupation of Australia very few animal species became extinct. And those that did - some very ancient giant species - were killed off by the immense climatic and environmental changes of their prehistoric era rather than by the hunters of the day."

"As a comparison, more than 200 separate wildlife species have become extinct in the short period since white occupation in 1788. Can we not learn something from this?"