He received public acclaim on many occasions; notably by receiving the Australian Natural History Medallion for 1941, getting elected as a Corresponding Member of the Zoological Society of London in 1945 and achieving Corresponding Member (Life) status to the New York Zoological Society in 1947.

David Fleay passed away on 7 August, 1993. His death was lamented by many. The regard in which he was held by his colleagues and the community is illustrated by the awards and honours bestowed upon him during his lifetime. However, personal tributes go further to revealing David Fleay's personality and tangible contribution to society.

Research was also conducted on many rare and endangered native animals and in 1933 he had the distinction of being one of the few people able to say they were bitten by the Tasmanian Tiger (which is now presumed extinct). And also achieved some other significant scientific firsts, such as the first captive breeding of emus, brush-turkeys, several birds of prey, the tawny frogmouth and a variety of marsupials, including the koala!

In late 1951, David Fleay selected the Tallebudgera Estuary as a suitable site for a fauna reserve. The attraction of the site was, according to Fleay, the flood-free forested slopes and gullies, a splendid run off, koala fodder gums with koalas in residence, and the presence of fish, mammals and birds.