The jewelPerup and in the the Upper crown: Warren

It is more than four decades since foresters and locals began to recognise the forests around Perup and the Upper Warren for a diversity of wildlife that had become extinct elsewhere. These discoveries led to some important research projects, as well as education, interpretation and ecotourism activities. Today the area is still one of the best places on mainland Australia to find many threatened vertebrate species in abundance—a priceless biodiversity and conservation treasure.

by Adrian Wayne and Joanna Moore

10 Landscope Landscope 11 ome 300 kilometres south of Perth (of which 10 are rare or endangered), S and lying between Bridgetown, 497 non-vascular plants, hundreds of Manjimup, Boyup Brook and Lake fungi species, around 1,000 terrestrial Muir, the catchment area of the upper invertebrate species, 216 aquatic reaches of the Warren River remains invertebrate species, six fish species— one of Australia’s best-kept secrets for ● Perup all of which are locally endemic—13 forest biodiversity, especially threatened species of frog, 26 reptiles, 130 birds marsupials. and 30 mammals. Threatened species that have There is also profound cultural disappeared elsewhere or are now significance in the area. In the north, rare across Australia are still found in The Upper Warren region refers the Perup and the Upper Warren were the area, including one of the two to around 285,000 hectares of once home to the Kaneang Aboriginal remaining indigenous populations of publicly managed forest within the people, in the south the Minang people the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), river catchments of the Wilgarup, and, in the west, the Pibbelmen. As a two of the four remaining indigenous Yerraminup, Perup and Tone rivers, site of early European settlement, the populations of the woylie (Bettongia all tributaries to the Warren River. region also has non-Aboriginal cultural penicillata ogilbyi), the largest inland The area includes State forest, the significance, with pioneering forestry population of western ringtail possum, 56,000-hectare Tone-Perup Nature and farming activities occurring in or ngwayir (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), the Reserve, the 21,000-hectare the area. largest known population of the south- provisionally named ‘Greater Kingston’ Research in the Upper Warren west species of brush-tailed phascogale, National Park and several other region, especially around Perup, into the Above Southern brown bandicoot or or wambenger (Phascogale sp.), and smaller nature reserves. Across a rainfall conservation of threatened mammals from the 1960s to the early 1970s. quenda. large and important populations of gradient ranging (roughly west to east) has played a major role in providing In the 1960s, scientists from the then new knowledge and understanding of Right The Indigenous name for the the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), from 1,000 millimetres to less than 700 Forests Department were alerted to western ringtail possum is ngwayir. wildlife in Western Australia. It is the chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), quenda millimetres per year, the area supports the presence of tammar wallabies and Photos – Jiri Lochman or southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon a diversity of forest and woodland types site of numerous research programs woylies in the Perup area by a forester carried out by the Department of obesulus fusciventor) and western brush including those dominated by jarrah based at the Tone River settlement, Environment and Conservation wallaby (M. irma). The region is also (Eucalyptus marginata), marri (Corymbia Harry Winfield (see ‘Possum magic’, (DEC) and some of its predecessor home to threatened birds such as Muir’s calophylla), wandoo (E. wandoo) and LANDSCOPE, Spring 2004). In departments, the Department of corella (Cacatua pastinator pastinator) and flooded gum (E. rudis). 1971, researcher Per Christensen with Conservation and Land Management A number of important research Baudin’s (Calyptorhynchus baudinii) and The Upper Warren and adjacent Graeme Liddelow, Dave Fauville, (CALM) and the Forests Department, projects began at Perup in the 1970s, Carnaby’s (C. latirostris) black cockatoos, Lake Muir area is a biodiversity hot Tom Leftwitch, Chris Vellios and since the early 1970s. Today, Perup and including work on woylies and tammar as well as threatened and endemic flora. spot. It is home to 925 vascular plants the late Peter Skinner verified these the surrounding Upper Warren stand wallabies and the impact of fire on reports by trapping and spotlighting: habitat. Through his work during the to be one of the most important areas they found that tammar wallabies, in nature conservation in south-west mid and late 1970s, Per and his team woylies, numbats, chuditch, quenda discovered that both species were well WA, a ‘jewel in the crown’ of the state’s and koomal, or brushtail possums biodiversity. adapted to the environments in which (Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus), were they lived and had a marked degree of Early days of conservation present in the forest. In recognition ‘fire dependence’. This was related to of its importance to conservation, the the fact that the food and plant species But how did it all start? Perup and Forests Department zoned the Perup the surrounding forests were gazetted on which they depended for shelter area a management priority area for and protection from predators were State forest and harvested for timber, fauna, flora and landscape values in particularly in the 1940s and again themselves reliant on fire to stimulate 1971. The Perup has been effectively regeneration and growth. managed as a nature reserve since. Per’s team discovered that both Parts of the area had also been species had remarkably high survival cleared for farmland and leased for rates during experimental burns, with stock. Keen for the opportunity to do woylies showing what is described Previous page more research into fauna in the area, as ‘high home-range fidelity’—that is Main The population of woylies in the the department acquired ‘Perup’ farm they retreated to unburnt patches or Perup and Upper Warren region is highly in 1972 as part of an amicable land jumped back through the flames onto significant. swap. The old farmhouse was useful as burnt ground to stay within their Photo – Jiri Lochman a base for research staff and, with some Insets Numbat (Photo – Jiri Lochman); territory. Woylies were found to be studying woylies and tammars that Per tammar wallaby (Photo – Sallyanne improvements and additions, became particularly reliant on the abundance discovered that the fox (Vulpes vulpes) Cousans); jarrah (Photo – Marie a research station known as the Perup of post-fire ‘fruiting’ of hypogeal fungi was a deadly predator. He demonstrated Lochman); Baudin’s black cockatoo (Photo Field Ecology Centre. As much of (native underground truffles), which is that the fox was a serious threat to – Jiri Lochman). the research on threatened species their staple diet—another important native mammals of the south-west and Left Brush-tailed phascogale and young. was carried out at night, having an discovery made by Per at the time. initiated the first fox baiting program Photo – Jiri Lochman overnight base was particularly useful. Perhaps most importantly, it was while to protect native wildlife in WA.

12 Landscope Landscope 13 Left Carnaby’s black cockatoos. to timber harvesting in the jarrah Photo – Jiri Lochman forest and help improve ecologically Below left The Perup Field Ecology Centre sustainable forest management is used by many researchers including practices. Gazetted as State forest at the students. time, this area was chosen because of Photo – Sabrina Trocini its abundance and diversity of wildlife, particularly threatened mammals. This comprehensive scientific study involved a large team of CALM (now 2000 when numbers were so abundant DEC) scientists, local district staff, it became increasingly difficult to catch university students and volunteers, other species due to the saturation of investigating plant diversity, abundance traps by woylies. The recovery of the and structure, soils and the distribution woylie in Perup and surrounding forests and abundance of tree hollows, as played a crucial part in it becoming the well as frogs and reptiles, invertebrates, first Australian vertebrate species to birds and mammals. Findings from be downgraded from an endangered the study have significantly shaped conservation status in 1996 (see ‘It’s the management of south-west jarrah back… the woylie’, LANDSCOPE, forests including increased protection Autumn 1996). of habitat trees and other important The long-term monitoring Thirty-five years of knowledge habitat such as balga (Xanthorrhea continues with the involvement of Bush priessii), the development of fauna The 1970s also saw the beginning Rangers WA—an extracurricular high habitat zones and the increased control of long-term monitoring at Perup. school program run by DEC as part With detailed studies starting in 1974 of introduced predators. of Cadets WA, focusing on biodiversity In 2001, a long-term ecological and continuing ever since, Perup is conservation and land management. monitoring program called the site of one of the longest fauna Bush Ranger cadets visit Perup as one FORESTCHECK began in the area and monitoring studies in Australia. of their reward experiences, where they has subsequently been expanded more Building on the early work started by help with work such as monitoring Per and his colleagues and followed on the effect of fox baiting on native broadly across the forest. A complement by then Forests Department researcher animal populations. Through this they to the Kingston Study, FORESTCHECK Neil Burrows and others, regular learn how to bait and clear fauna monitors changes and trends in key monitoring by live cage-trapping traps, monitor and record information, elements of forest biodiversity associated has provided important data on the carry out night fauna counts, use GPS with forest management activities abundance and population changes of units, handle native animals safely and (particularly timber harvesting and fire) marsupials such as the woylie, chuditch, effectively and analyse results. These across forest landscapes throughout the quenda and koomal in relation to young volunteers are ‘skilled up’ to south-west. Nearly 3,000 species, many increasing fox control over time and be the conservation workforce of the not yet scientifically named, have been ongoing fire management including future. sampled in this study so far, only 0.6 prescribed burns. per cent of which are mammals. Like Significant studies In 1976, the first formal fauna the Kingston Study, FORESTCHECK reintroduction program in WA was In 1981, Neil established a project Above A majestic jarrah tree. continues to improve understanding Photo – Marie Lochman successfully conducted by Per and Tom in Perup that aimed to test the long- of the biodiversity and ecology of the Ongoing successful projects in Leftwich with the establishment of term effects of different fire regimes jarrah forest with the aim of ensuring Perup and the Upper Warren are built a new population of woylies in the and seasonality on understorey vascular positive conservation outcomes based on the shoulders of these early projects. northern part of Perup, using animals flora species in the jarrah forest. This on solid science. The area deserves ongoing recognition is no other area in WA like it in terms from southern Perup. The success of involved burning plots of forest in Earlier findings from the Kingston as an important and unique place: of supporting so many threatened the translocation was largely attributed short, normal and long rotations as important because it supports several marsupial species. to the commencement of fox control Study showed that the ngwayir and, to well as leaving some areas unburnt. threatened species that have undergone at the reintroduction site, using baits some extent, the koomal were sensitive Ecotourism, education and massive range contractions across containing the 1080 toxin. Fox baiting Many strategically timed experimental to timber harvesting and predation. experiences burns later, significant findings about This led to a broader study in the Australia, and unique because it has has continued ever since, culminating From early beginnings and a fire regimes have been published in a mammal suite almost completely in 1997 when it was integrated into the Upper Warren between 2001 and constantly evolving range of activities, broader-scale Western Shield program. a number of papers, informing other 2005 which focused on aspects of the intact (except the bilby and boodie— ecotourism in the Upper Warren is Woylie numbers have grown steadily researchers and land managers. possums’ ecology and biology with although moves are afoot to once bigger than ever. Since the mid-1970s, since the 1970s, with marked increases Immediately to the west of Perup, the aim of managing and conserving again see these species at home in the alongside projects on forest ecology corresponding with improvements to the Kingston Study began in 1994 to these species and their habitat more Upper Warren). Other than Dryandra and management, training for Forests the fox baiting regime, peaking around investigate the responses of biodiversity effectively. Woodland and offshore islands, there Department staff began at Perup.

14 Landscope Landscope 15 Volunteers, students and paying guests buildings including several cottages, Today, Perup is also the site of also joined researchers to camp at a lodge, bunkhouse, classroom and numerous university student projects Perup and be involved with wildlife laboratory and a caretaker’s house to and a range of education and training research. These were soon extended accommodate small to large groups, activities. It is also the destination to include courses for school teachers ranging from couples to school and of national and international science and participants of The University of corporate groups. Using renewable groups and school excursions. Western Australia’s extension program solar and wind-generated power and Volunteers, students, local interest ‘LANDSCOPE Expeditions’ (see rainwater, guests can stay and have a groups and local landholders have been ‘A wild weekend’, LANDSCOPE, genuine wilderness experience within a substantial and important part of Summer 1990–91). the heart of one of the country’s key all of the major research in the area The 1980s saw the expansion of locations for fauna conservation and and continue to play a key role in the facilities at Perup, with temporary research. The public can also visit and ongoing conservation and management ‘donga’ accommodation brought in stay in ‘Perup – Nature’s Guesthouse’ of the region. to accommodate course participants to learn about nature conservation Worrying about woylies and researchers. The late 1990s saw a and forest management. Special night major upgrade of facilities, and dongas spotlighting wildlife walks are run out In recent years, a major project to were replaced with eco-sensitive of the guesthouse. identify the causes of decline in woylie populations has been under way at Perup (see ‘Down but not out: solving the mystery of the woylie population Above Woylie. crash’, LANDSCOPE, Winter 2008). of the estimated animals in the wild— Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary, managed Photo – Sallyanne Cousans Following the success of recovery and there are now estimated to be by AWC, in supporting a healthy programs for the woylie during the Below Perup entry sign. woylie population free from predators. late 20th century, woylie numbers just 10,000. Given the rapid species Photo – Cliff Winfield It will be monitored and managed as started to plummet. Numbers across collapse, and the risk of extinction of the woylie, it was decided that insurance from local extinction for Below left Jarrah forest at dawn. the country have dropped around 80 Photo – Jiri Lochman per cent since 2001 and at some sites emergency conservation action was the indigenous woylie populations of numbers were recorded as dropping needed. Kingston and Perup. The sanctuary will also enable scientists to conduct research up to 97 per cent. As a result, the Perup Sanctuary woylie has been relisted on state and on the impact of predators and disease federal threatened species lists and is An exciting new phase in the in the conservation and recovery of now listed as critically endangered Upper Warren’s history has now the woylie. The same project will also on the International Union for the begun. Adjoining ‘Perup – Nature’s see another complementary captive Conservation of Nature ‘Red List’. Guesthouse’, a 420-hectare predator- insurance population established at The Woylie Conservation Research free enclosure has been constructed Perth Zoo that will try to capture the Project was set up to identify the to support about 400 wild woylies. genetic diversity of the entire species. causes of this baffling decline, focusing The Perup Sanctuary is based on the Woylie releases into the two insurance on the Upper Warren region. The proven success and importance of the colonies began in late 2010. project joined the forces of DEC, Murdoch University, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), Perth Adrian Wayne is the Department Zoo and South Australian Department of Environment and Conservation’s of Environment and Heritage. While (DEC’s) forest fauna ecology research scientist. Based in Manjimup, he predation, especially by feral cats, is researches the ecology of forest involved, and disease is a suspected vertebrate fauna (frogs, reptiles and potential factor, this major collaborative mammals), focusing on work relevant research program has so far been to the conservation and management unable to definitively prove the causes of threatened species and fauna of the woylie decline. And it’s getting responses to timber harvesting and prescribed burning. He can be critical: in 1999, there were about contacted on (08) 9771 7985 or by email 240,000 woylies in the Upper Warren ([email protected]). region—perhaps more than two-thirds Joanna Moore is a DEC publications officer and LANDSCOPE editor. She can be contacted on (08) 9389 4009 or by email ([email protected]). For more information about staying at Left DEC Senior Technical Officer Chris ‘Perup – Nature’s Guesthouse’ contact Vellios with a woylie to be released into DEC’s Donnelly District Office on the Perup Sanctuary. (08) 9776 1207. Photo – Emma O'Leary/DEC

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