Threatened Species Bake Off helps save Australia’s animals from extinction

THEY are some of the strangest cakes you’ve seen but there’s a reason why people are busy baking them.

The giant pink slug for the Threatened Species Bake Off. Picture: The Outback Grandma

BAKING is difficult at the best of times.

But baking a cake replicating one of the strangest animals species around? Nope.

Somehow people are pulling it off, though. And it’s pretty impressive.

Enter the Threatened Species Bake Off. Yep, you read that right.

They’re those really important animals we need to save and protect before they get to the extinct category. After all, we don’t want to be making a bunch of cakes to sit alongside the Tasmanian tiger.

Australia’s biodiversity is currently in decline, with more than 1700 species and ecological communities threatened and at risk of extinction.

To help get the message out there, the Australian government is running the Threatened Species Bake Off for the second year running.

Australians have been busy baking ahead of Threatened Species Day on Friday and sharing their creations on social media.

Remember that ugly punk turtle that made headlines earlier this year? Well, Virginia Streit recreated it.

RELATED: Five key species Aussies should protect

I made a cake even uglier than the Mary River Turtle and wore a t-shirt to match for the #TSBakeOff. This #PunkTurtle had been listed as one of 100 most endangered reptiles on the planet! Support it here https://t.co/QwtuxC9ByO #SaveUgly @TSCommissioner pic.twitter.com/PaRyCgDbLs

— Virginia Streit (@PureGin) September 5, 2018

The #TSBakeoff coincides with a new initiative launch by @jessmoys and me, #hi5forahandfish. High-five a friend today and tell them a spotted handfish fact (see thread)

(To the handfish fans: it wasn’t supposed to end this way. I’m sorry. Cake decorating is hard)@TSCommissioner pic.twitter.com/WkX9ldeFMc

— Zoï Banikos (@zuzimb) August 29, 2018

The growling grass frog whipped up by cesar Australia. It’s one of Australia’s largest frog species at up to 104mm in length.

An Australian sea lion pup to celebrate the @TSCommissioner's #TSBakeOff. In one frame, 3 generations of #sealion ecologists (me, Prof Goldsworthy & Dr Shaughnessy), working on conserving this threatened species, which has declined by ~78% in the past 3 generations! #SARDIScience pic.twitter.com/5GBqcAfPeD

— Jarrod Hodgson (@jarrodchodgson) September 6, 2018

My two favourite things - birds and cake! Here's my attempt at a super cool bird! I've really enjoyed being involved in the 'Paddocks for Plains-wanderers' project for the last couple of years. #TSBakeOff https://t.co/Nftr9Tr3va pic.twitter.com/Hyg0I6hfrw

— Elisa Tack (@els_tac) September 5, 2018

The critically endangered golden sun moth created by cesar Australia.

During yesterday's #TSBakeOff morning tea we ate two cakes featuring threatened species which are especially dear to our hearts: the Eastern Barred Bandicoot and the Lord Howe Island Phasmid! Here are those lovely cakes again with reading material to match... pic.twitter.com/lgjXveqH2T

— CSIRO Publishing (@CSIROPublishing) September 6, 2018

My colleague Aimee from @ZoosVictoria (ZEP team) made this incredible masterpiece for #tsbakeoff! Everything including the moss is edible! I'm going to enjoy eating this #southerncorroboreefrog to 'extinction' tomorrow for Threatened Species Day. @tscommissioner pic.twitter.com/09LTUMQ1p0

— Naomi Indigo (@NaomiIndigo) September 6, 2018

The salted caramel short-nosed sea snake is declining at rates of about 90 per cent. Picture: @WombatWrangler

To get on board the rest of the amazing creations check out #TSBakeOff on Twitter.