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Woylies are to be returned to the Wellington forests between Collie and Dardanup.
Woylies are to be returned to the Wellington forests between Collie and Dardanup.
Premier Richard Court, who today unveiled the new Wellington National
Park, said the small native mammals would be reintroduced into the
forest as part of the Department of Conservation and Land Management's
Western Shield project that aims to bring more than 30 native species
back from the brink of extinction.
Mr Court said woylies once
occurred throughout much of the State, including the Pilbara and from
Shark Bay to the South Coast.
By 1990, however, only three
natural populations were known to exist. These were at Dryandra
Woodland near Narrogin, Tutanning Nature Reserve near Pingelly and
Perup Nature Reserve in State Forest east of Manjimup.
In 1996, following fox control by CALM, the species' status was changed under World Conservation Union (IUCN) guidelines.
This was the first time a species had been de-listed in Australia as a
result of scientific research and conservation management.
Mr
Court said woylies were now widespread following strategic
introductions in areas such as Francois Peron National Park in the
World Heritage Listed Shark Bay area, in the Valley of the Giants
tingle forest north of Nornalup on the South Coast, and in the Hills
Forest around Mundaring.
"The single major factor in the
recovery of the species has been the control of introduced predators
such as the European fox," he said.
"Western Shield now has
led to two other species being de-listed - the quenda or southern brown
bandicoot, and the tammar wallaby.
"The program has attracted
international acclaim and is considered to be the single biggest
wildlife conservation initiative undertaken in Australia."
Mr Court said fox baiting in Western Australia was based on one of the State's great 'natural advantages'.
"The toxin used in the baits, 1080, occurs naturally in the 'poison peas' - Gastrolobium species," he said.
"Because WA's native animals have evolved alongside these plants -
which are deadly to domestic pets and livestock - they have developed
high tolerances to the toxicity."
Mr Court said the forests
in the Wellington catchment had been baited for foxes for about eight
years as part of Operation Foxglove that was the forerunner to the
broader Western Shield program introduced in 1996.
"CALM
officers have been monitoring the area over the past few years and have
recorded native species such as chuditch, quenda (southern brown
bandicoot) and brush tailed possums," he said.
"Ring tailed possums have been seen in the neighbouring pine plantation.
"The reintroduction of woylies to the area is a further step towards
restoring the ecological balance that occurred before the introduction
of feral predators.
"The 3,000ha of land which the State
Government has bought to create the Wellington National Park now will
be included in the baiting program which will extend the area of
suitable Habitat for native species.
"The introduction of the
animals also will provide an additional nature-based experience for
visitors to the park and surrounding areas."
Woylies are
continuous breeders under suitable conditions. Females first breed at
six months of age and males at between nine and 12 months.
"Because they are prolific breeders, they are a very good 'indicator species'," Mr Court said.
"If the woylie population is thriving, then it is a good indication
that not only is fox control working, but also the natural ecosystems
that sustain their environment are intact and healthy."
The
woylies for the translocation would come from Batalling forest, about
30km east of Collie, where the population has increased dramatically as
a result of fox baiting.
Mr Court said 40 woylies would be released.
Media contact: Casey Cahill 9222 9455 |
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