The National Parks and Wildlife Foundation wants youngsters aged to 12 to draw and paint the wildlife in their areas.

Nine winners' work will be shown at the Australian National Maritime Museum after the Dymocks Golden Paw Award competition on September 7. The winners will receive trophies and prizes that include book vouchers, national park tours, art supplies and books.

Foundation CEO Leonie Gale said the award would recognise the pupils who create the best coloured drawing of a threatened species.

She said the foundation was concerned there had been no sightings of the fishing bat or the black-chinned honeyeater in Blacktown for several years, but this did not mean they have disappeared.

``People may have seen all these animals but not recognised or reported them,'' she said. ``Most threatened species are so rare we often don't know what they look like; this is where we need the children's help.

``Their drawings will show everyone what our threatened animals look like, so people will recognise them ... so we can protect them and their homes.''