YELLOW-EYED PENGUIN, MEGADYPTES ANTIPODES. Status: Threatened. The yellow-eyed penguin is one of the world’s rarest penguin species with an estimated population of 4000 individuals. This individual had just come out of the water and started its arduous journey up the steep slope towards its nests when I caught it peeking over a boulder. Otago Peninsula, South Island, New Zealand. Canon 50D, Canon EF 300mm f/4L IS USM, 1/500, f/5.6, ISO 250, handheld

GREY NURSE SHARK CARCHARIAS TAURUS. Status: Critically endangered. On our yearly trip to South West Rocks I decided to break up the eight hour return with three days at Nelson Bay. Normally I don’t venture past the shore dives at Nelson Bay, but after this spectacular dive at the Looking Glass at Broughton Island, I will be returning. Broughton Island, Port Stephens, New South Wales. Nikon D200, Nikkor 10.5mm Fisheye, 1/100, f/4, ISO 100, 2 x Nikonos SB105 strobes both on 1/16 power, Seacam housing with Wide Port

SNARES CRESTED PENGUIN, EUDYPTES ROBUSTUS.Status: Vulnerable. Going home. The Snares crested penguin breeds only on the Snares Islands, about 200 kilometres south west of New Zealand’s mainland. Listed as vulnerable on the IUCN’s red list, landing here is restricted to official researchers and of course the native wildlife. This one was photographed offshore on its way home. Snares Islands, Southern Ocean. Nikon d750, Nikon 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6, 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 800, UV filter, handheld from a zodiac

GLOSSY BLACK COCKATOO, CALYPTORHYNCHUS LATHAMI. Status: Endangered. A female glossy black-cockatoo, noisily eating the seeds from her favourite tree – the Casuarina (sheoak). My first and last encounter with this elusive bird. Smaller than the other black cockatoos, this was a rare sighting, as they have disappeared from the Jervis Bay area. So privileged and honoured. Booderee Botanical Gardens, Jervis Bay, New South Wales. Canon 5D Mk III, Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS II USM, 1/400, f/5.6, ISO 400, handheld

GOLDEN-SHOULDERED PARROT, PSEPHOTELLUS CHRYSOPTERYGIUS. Status: Endangered. A wild male golden shouldered parrot on a termite mound where he and his mate dug their nest. This endemic Australian bird is listed as endangered with population surveys pointing to a total wild population of around 2000 birds with only around 300 breeding pairs. Cape York, Queensland. Canon EOS 1D IV, Canon 800mm f5.6 L IS, 1/1600, f/10, ISO 125

SOUTERN CASSOWARY, CASUARIUS CASUARIUS. Status: Vulnerable. This huge female wild southern cassowary was photographed while foraging at Etty Beach close to the sea. Due to ongoing habitat loss, limited range and overhunting in some areas, the southern cassowary is evaluated as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Etty Beach, Queensland. Canon EOS 1D IV, Canon 300mm f2.8 L IS, 1/320, f/8, ISO 800

GOLDEN-TAILED GECKO, STROPHURUS TAENICAUDA. Status: Near-threatened. The golden-tailed gecko has become increasingly rare in Queensland due to the clearing of core habitat for agriculture and mining. Close-up encounters, like this, enable us to appreciate the striking colour and intricate detail of the iris along with the contrasting mosaic of black and white scales.Dalby Region, Queensland. Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF 100mm F2.8 L IS USM, 1/250, f/9, ISO 100, Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT and twin Canon Speedlite 430EX II flash

MARY RIVER TURTLE, ELUSOR MACRURUS. Status: Endangered. Freshwater turtles are a much neglected part of Australia’s incredible fauna, mainly because they live an aquatic lifestyle and are rarely encountered. Most of their habitats are unsuitable for in situ underwater photography – they are either not clear enough or home to creatures posing a danger to humans like crocodiles. Fully aqua-scaped 1500 litre aquarium, Lower Beechmont, Queensland. Nikon D 80, Nikkor 24/120 at 120mm, 1/1000 sec (flash), f/16, ISO 100, 6 small slave studio flashes mounted above the tank at full out-put, master flash Nikon SB 24 mounted at 45° above the camera at front. 1/4 out-put. All manual, UV filter, handheld

THROMBOLITE (MICROBIALITE) COMMUNITY. Status: Critically endangered. Thrombolites are structures formed by microbial communities. Situated in the Internationally Protected Ramsar 482 region and with scientists claiming they are billions of years old, we should be doing everything to protect them. In Dreamtime these are the eggs of the Woggle, they made all the lakes, rivers and water ways. But we are killing them. Lake Clifton, Western Australia Canon 1DS Mk III, 24mm, 1.3, f/11.3, ISO 200, tripod and cordless remote

AUSTRALIAN FAIRY TERN, STERNULA NEREIS NEREIS. Status: Vulnerable. As I lay on the beach, these young fairy terns became so comfortable with my presence that some landed very close to me. Their habit of nesting on the beach makes this beautiful species extremely vulnerable to the activities of 4WD vehicles and predation by feral animals. Woodman Point, Western Australia. Canon EOS-1DX, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + Canon EF Extender1.4X, 1/2500, f/5.6 (exposure bias of +1), ISO 1000, handheld