WOOGAROO Forest, one of Ipswich’s last substantial bushland pockets, still offers locals glimpses of rare wildlife – for now.

Last week, a short-beaked echidna and a yellow-tailed black cockatoo were spotted. The footage, shared widely on social media, has sparked renewed calls to protect the forest as urban development pressures mount.

Echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) are spiny, egg-laying mammals that quietly forage through leaf litter, flipping soil to feed on ants and termites.

While listed as “Least Concern” under Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act, their local populations are vulnerable to road strikes, dog attacks, and habitat clearing.

“If you spot an echidna, slow down, keep dogs leashed, and report sightings to programs like EchidnaWatch,” wildlife officers said.

Above the canopy, yellow-tailed black cockatoos (Zanda funerea) glide in small family flocks, their calls echoing across the forest.

Though not currently listed as threatened, these birds are declining in parts of eastern Australia as old trees and nesting hollows disappear.

Protecting mature eucalypts and hollows at Woogaroo is critical for their survival, while native plantings and connected green corridors can help sustain local populations.

Local conservationists say the videos highlight why Woogaroo Forest matters.

“These animals aren’t just iconic – they’re indicators of the health of the bush,” one resident said.

With developers Stockland wanting to build hundreds of homes on the forest, advocates are calling on the Federal Government to safeguard the habitat.

The message is simple: Woogaroo Forest is a living home for our most distinctive wildlife.