The Giant Gippsland Earthworm (GGE) is one of the world’s largest earthworms and is listed as a threatened species. It is found only in the clay soils of South and West Gippsland, within a 440 km² area bounded approximately by the Bass River Valley, Korumburra, and Warragul. Almost the entire known population occurs on private farmland, making landholder participation essential to its conservation. In the late 1970s, Museum Victoria conducted a landmark survey of GGE distribution using landholder questionnaires. To this day, it remains the most comprehensive historical dataset on the species. Revisiting and expanding this census by collecting new records from landowners will provide critical insight into population trends and establish a baseline for monitoring changes into the future, as the species faces increasing pressure from climate change and urban expansion. In 2025, the first region-wide census of GGE populations in over 45 years was launched. This two-year project is being delivered by the Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group, in collaboration with Bass Coast, South Gippsland and Latrobe Landcare Networks, Invert-Eco, and Oates Environmental Consulting, with funding from the Australian Government's Saving Native Species Program. The project includes: • Collation of historical data from the 1980 Museum Victoria survey • A landholder questionnaire to assess current earthworm presence • The launch of a purpose-built GGE App for recording GPS sightings and habitat photos • Ground truthing of reported sites to verify habitat quality and species presence • Community engagement through Landcare, media campaigns, and targeted outreach This is the first comprehensive survey of the species in more than four decades, and the first to use dedicated GPS mapping tools, allowing for accurate identification of colony locations. The findings will help identify key habitats, track changes over time, and guide future conservation strategies. In June 2025, landholders across the known range of the GGE will receive a mailed invitation to participate. They will be encouraged to complete the online questionnaire and download the free GGE Census App to record accurate habitat locations. Participation is entirely voluntary, and all data collected will be treated as confidential. For information on how to get involved, please visit our Get Involved page.

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The ‘Census of the Giant Gippsland Earthworm in South and West Gippsland’ is funded by the Australian Government under the Saving Native Species Program.