Harry Frauca

Harry Frauca (14 October 1928 – 1986) was an Australian naturalist, writer and photographer of Spanish Catalan origin, he was born in Girona, Spain and educated in Denmark and England. In 1955 he migrated to Australia from Denmark with his wife Claudia, citing his occupation as a "freelance magazine writer".

Frauca mostly took his photographs in Tasmania and Queensland, where he moved later in life. His books covered a wide range of Australian fauna, including birds, reptiles, insects, and mammals, and were often illustrated with his own photographs. From 1970 he also collected insects for the Australian National Insect Collection.

Conservation advocacy

Frauca's books called for the protection of native habitats, and were significant at a time when there were very few publications on the behaviour of native Australian animals.

Personal life

The last years of Frauca's life were spent in Bundaberg, Queensland, with his wife Claudia. An annual memorial walk is held on 13 October, the day before his birthday.