The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

Test your knowledge of Central Australia — one of Earth’s last great wild places. Click on the links that you think best answer each quiz question below. Good luck!

1. Deserts and aridlands cover how much of the Earth's land surface?

   5 percent

   5 percent | Incorrect

   15 percent

   15 percent | Incorrect

   30 percent

   30 percent | Correct

   Central Australia is an ancient landscape of stark beauty and quiet, of red dunes and sweeping desert plains stretching as far as the eye can see. Learn more

   50 percent

   50 percent | Incorrect

2. Experts predict that the possible effects of climate change on Central Australia are:

   The spread of invasive species and disease to larger areas

   The spread of invasive species and disease to larger areas | Incorrect

   Altered amount and timing of naturally-occurring fires

   Altered amount and timing of naturally-occurring fires | Incorrect

   Extended time between rains

   Extended time between rains | Incorrect

   All of the above

   All of the above | Correct

   See what the Conservancy is doing to slow the pace of climate change. Learn more

3. Australia has the worst mammal species extinction rate in the world.

   True

   True | Correct

   A new report is highlighting the perils faced by northern Australia mammals. Get familiar with Australian wildlife.

   False

   False | Incorrect

   | Incorrect

   | Incorrect

4. Protected areas can help stop and reverse the wave of mammal extinctions in Australia by:

   Protecting the diversity of small mammals

   Protecting the diversity of small mammals | Incorrect

   Stopping predation by feral cats and foxes

   Stopping predation by feral cats and foxes | Incorrect

   Providing sites for future reintroduction of animals that are extinct in some regions

   Providing sites for future reintroduction of animals that are extinct in some regions | Incorrect

   Both A. and C.

   Both A. and C. | Correct

   The establishment of the Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary ensures that almost 20 million acres of protected lands are now linked — filling in a critical gap that will allow desert wildlife to roam between five huge preserves.

5. The aridlands of central Australia cover how much of Australia?

   15 percent

   15 percent | Incorrect

   45 percent

   45 percent | Correct

   Central Australia covers more than 1.4 million square miles — over 45 percent of the Australian continent.

   75 percent

   75 percent | Incorrect

   90 percent

   90 percent | Incorrect

6. Ranching in Central Australia is damaging the region's natural systems by:

   Consuming vegetation and water desperately needed by native species

   Consuming vegetation and water desperately needed by native species | Incorrect

   Dividing the landscape and causing habitat fragmentation

   Dividing the landscape and causing habitat fragmentation | Incorrect

   Reducing rainfall and causing drought

   Reducing rainfall and causing drought | Incorrect

   Both A. and B.

   Both A. and B. | Correct

   Cattle and other introduced animals consume vegetation and water that native species desperately need to survive, and herds trample and spoil precious wetlands. Learn more

7. The conservation purchase of the Kalamurina property in Central Australia will protect how many acres of critical habitat between two massive existing preserves?

   1.7 acres

   1.7 acres | Incorrect

   170 acres

   170 acres | Incorrect

   170,000 acres

   170,000 acres | Incorrect

   1.7 million acres

   1.7 million acres | Correct

   We have teamed up to purchase nearly 1.7 million acres of water-rich land that teems with some of the most unusual wildlife on the planet.