The Pest Invaders BioQuest is brought to you by Guardians of Earth.
Can you help Stop Invasive pests?
Your mission:
Defend your country
Embark on a fun real-world adventure that will open your eyes to our beautiful environment and the world of invasive pests. Get outdoors to capture (with photos!) as many insect, weeds and pest animals as you can - at both your school and anywhere you can adventure in nature.
Join the action using the latest real-world nature AR adventure game, Spirits of the Realms.
It engages people – young and old – with nature, awakening a deep appreciation for all the amazing life forms... it is so much more than a game.
– DR JANE GOODALL, PH.D, DBE, FOUNDER, JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE & UN MESSENGER OF PEACE
If your school is participating in any Jane Goodall Institute’s Roots & Shoots programs, such as Rewild Your School - we'll give your school FREE ENTRY into the Pest Invaders BioQuest and Schools BioQuest this year. Simply get in contact with our team.
Major prize: 2024 ‘Overall Champion’ will receive AU$1000 towards an environmental-themed adventure in Cairns!
The Owl Whisperer, took to the sky over the Great Barrier Reef as a part of his prize for winning the 2023 Pest Invaders BioQuest - he even got to take his lucky and very proud parents.
It's an absolute thrill to see young explorers like The Owl Whisperer embrace nature-positive gaming. We love giving people—young and old—new and fun ways to encounter the natural world, develop stronger relationships with the species they meet, while supporting biodiversity research and conservation. With players like The Owl Whisperer leading the adventure, we can't help but feel optimistic about this new generation of Guardians of Earth rising through the ranks!
The 2022 Pest Invaders winner, along with their family, received a free helicopter tour of some of the Great Barrier Reef. Congratulations to Blayd on winning the competition and thanks to the sponsors and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for organising the prize!
The family seems to have had an amazing experience. Here is what they said:
Spectacular! Amazing! Breathtaking! Blayd and his family would like to thank everyone involved in the organisation of such a magnificent prize. Blayd and his family recently experienced a Scenic Helicopter Flight over Green Island, Yarrabah, False Cape, Arlington Reef, and Vlasoff Sand Cay from Cairns. Our family got to see a family of Dugongs, turtles, a pod of dolphins, and the spectacular reef around Green Island. Our family would like to say a huge thank you for this amazing opportunity.
(all images courtesy of Blayd and his family)
Renmark North Primary
Team members from Wagga Wagga Public School
The Game
Participate in Pest Invaders with the real-world exploration AR mobile game, Spirits of the Realms.
It’s easy to play and contribute to science at the same time
About the Game
Your adventure starts now. Discover the magic of nature.
Spirits of the Realms is an AR adventure game where you build your collection of nature spirits by engaging with your local environment. All spirits are based on real wildlife.
Observed at actual locations.
SotR is from the creators of QuestaGame, the world's first mobile game that takes you outdoors to discover, map and ultimately help protect life on our planet. The photos of species you submit through the games - and any correct identifications you submit - are shared with leading biodiversity databases.
So you’re contributing to real research and conservation, while having fun and engaging with nature.
Simply download the ‘Spirits of the Realms’ mobile game, find the spirits, and complete their quests!
IMPORTANT TIP: Remember to get close-up photos - as long as it’s safe - to help the identifiers. (For plants, get close-up shots of the flowers).
Awards for schools
CHAMPION REALMS - The top 3 Nature Realms with the largest increase to bioscore.
CHAMPION TEAMS - The top 3 teams with the highest combined SotR score from players.
Awards for individuals
CHAMPION PLAYERS - The top 3 players with the highest SotR score.
CHAMPION IDENTIFIERS - The top 3 biocoin earners for correct identifications within participating realms.
Award certificates will be presented to the winners. If prizes are included, they will be announced on this website and presented to Pest Invaders BioQuest winners by the DAF Hermitage Research Facility in Warwick, SE Qld.
