Such a philosophy underpins the Border activities taking place to mark National Threatened Species Day on Thursday.

The last Tasmanian tiger, or thylacine, died at Hobart zoo on September 7, 1936.

Since 1996 landcare groups, volunteers, community experts and government environment departments have used that date to highlight the work being done to help native plants, animals and ecosystems at risk of extinction.

Petaurus Education Group executive officer Owen Dunlop said a community evening at Wonga Wetlands and school visits to Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre in Burrumbuttock aimed to increase awareness of threatened species in this region.

“A lot of people know about polar bears and orangutans and things like that but it’s really important for children to be able to connect with local species that are on their doorstep,” Mr Dunlop said. “Children get a sense of what’s in their own backyard and learn about what things they can do to help.”

Students from five schools – Glenroy, Burrumbuttock and Walla Public Schools, St John’s Jindera and Holy Spirit Lavington – will take part in games and activities at Wirraminna that focus on the southern corroboree frog, southern pygmy perch and squirrel glider.

“All these quirky little characteristics about local species that we try to excite children with so they can get that firsthand knowledge,” Mr Dunlop said.

“We hope it translates into learning and they go home and talk about it; we hope they go home and have conversations with older brothers and sisters and mums and dads.”

Thursday’s community evening, which begins from 5.30pm, includes talks by two presenters, Albury-based fisheries manager for the Greater Murray region Luke Pearce and Greater Murray biodiversity monitoring program senior ecologist Damian Michael.

Mr Pearce will discuss native fish programs, stream rehabilitation measures and pest fish management.

“I have a deep passion for our threatened native fish and their recovery, particularly the smaller species of less notoriety like the southern pygmy perch,” he said.

Dr Michael will lead a spotlighting walk around some of the Wonga Wetlands lagoons, identifying many of the night sounds.

Members of the Bhutanese community and Parklands Albury Wodonga will provide a warm supper.

The event is free but people are asked to RSVP to Stacee on stacee.staunton-latimer1@det.nsw.edu.au.

More information on the Petaurus Education Group Facebook page.