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Effective fox control has led to the reintroduction of the chuditch into
an area where it has not been seen for more than 50 years.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today said that 40 chuditch had
been reintroduced into Cape Arid National Park, 120km east of Esperance
– the first time the species had been reintroduced into its former home
range.
She said the reintroduction followed successful comprehensive baiting
for foxes under the Western
Shield program.
The Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) program, aims
to bring native animals back from the brink of extinction by controlling
introduced predators, the European fox and feral cat.
The chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), the largest carnivorous marsupial
found in WA, used to be widespread and abundant throughout Australia. The
introduction of predators such as foxes and feral cats has contributed
greatly to its decline and it can now only be found in limited numbers
in the South-West.
Mrs Edwardes said that through Western Shield, CALM was stopping the
decline and bringing native animals, such as the chuditch, back from the
brink of extinction.
"Through successful fox baiting operations at Cape Arid during the past
two years, CALM has been able to significantly reduce fox numbers paving
the way for this historic re-introduction of the chuditch," she said.
"The release at Cape Arid is part of a detailed recovery plan jointly
funded by CALM, Environment Australia, Perth Zoo and Alcoa to improve the
Endangered conservation status of the chuditch by translocating it to parts
of the State where fox control has been achieved.
"The chuditch reintroduced into Cape Arid were translocated from the
captive breeding program at Perth Zoo – a joint project between the Zoo
and CALM.
"Extensive post release monitoring by CALM science officers will commence
immediately with long-term monitoring being undertaken by CALM district
staff."
Mrs Edwardes said Cape Arid National Park was an excellent site for
the reintroduction as fox numbers were under control and it provided the
vegetation required for the chuditch Habitat.
"Its 280,00 ha size, remoteness and close proximity to other nature
reserves makes its an ideal site for the species to re-establish itself
into its former home-range," she said.
The Minister said the reintroduction of chuditch at Cape Arid National
Park augured well for the future of the species and WA's conservation efforts
in saving native animals from extinction.
"This reintroduction follows the announcement last week that the tammar
wallaby and the quenda would soon be de-listed from the State's Threatened
Species List," she said.
"Recovery plans for the chuditch are right on track and it is hoped
that in the future the chuditch may also follow suit and its threatened
classification status be removed."
Media contacts:
Ministerial -- Nicole Trigwell on (08) 421 7777, 018 906 948
CALM -- Dr Syd Shea on (08) 9442 0325 |
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