DOCSLIB.ORG

Urgent Action for Australia's Endangered Wildlife

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Urgent Action for Australia's Endangered Wildlife REWILDING YORKE PROJECT Saving our species: urgent action for Australia’s endangered wildlife DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE ALREADY MAMMAL SPECIES “ ONCE OUR NATIVE 27 EXTINCT ON SOUTHERN YORKE PENINSULA? ANIMALS ARE GONE, © KLEIN & HUBERT / WWF © MARTIN HARVEY / © SIMON CHERRIMAN WWF, THEY’RE GONE FOREVER.” –Darren Grover, Head of Living Ecosystems, WWF-Australia / WWF-AUS © JOHN LAWSON 1. Southern brown bandicoot 2. Western barred bandicoot 3. Broad-faced potoroo 4. Brush-tailed bettong © WWF-AUS / DARREN GROVER A BOLD MOVE TO TACKLE SPECIES EXTINCTION IN AUSTRALIA © FREE VECTOR MAPS.COM 5. Burrowing bettong 6. Bilby We are in the middle of an extinction crisis in Australia. With over 1,900 7. Hairy-nosed wombat plants and animals on the officially threatened list, some could be lost in 8. Crescent nail-tailed wallaby the next decade without urgent action now. 9. Euro (wallaroo) You are invited to partner with us on the Rewilding Yorke Project – 10. Banded hare-wallaby the largest, boldest reintroduction of threatened species anywhere in Adelaide Southern Yorke Yorke 11. Eastern hare-wallaby Australia. The project will create a wildlife sanctuary on South Australia’s Peninsula Peninsula REWILDING Yorke Peninsula, protected by a specially constructed fence. This will 12. Numbat enable the reintroduction of dozens of threatened species, and ensure the 13. Common brush-tailed possum conservation of this unique landscape. 14. Common ring-tailed possum YORKE Why Yorke Peninsula? 15. Fat-tailed dunnart This is an area of spectacular landscapes fringed by rugged coastline. 16. Grey-bellied dunnart But years of agricultural activity and devastation by feral wildlife have 17. Long-tailed dunnart PROJECT Kangaroo Island led to the local extinction of 27 mammal species, and the vital ecological 18. Red-tailed phascogale functions they provided. Critically, we are now starting to see changes 19. Western quoll “The Australian in the vegetation. This could spell disaster: because once their habitats are extinction crisis is gone, it will be too late to reintroduce native species. Map showing the ‘leg’ of Yorke Peninsula, which is mainly agricultural, 20. Mitchell’s hopping mouse upon us. We must and the ‘foot’, which includes a national park at its tip. By installing a 21. Plains mouse fence at the peninsula’s narrowest point, feral animals will be kept out. step up, be bold and The clock is ticking, and we need to act now. A project like this can be a game-changer – where we begin to turn the tables on the extinction crisis. 22. Gould’s mouse innovate the way (Top) ENDANGERED: The numbat is now extinct on Yorke we tackle extinction Peninsula and there may now only be 1,000 adults left in the wild. 23. Shark Bay mouse before it’s too late. 24. Western mouse We have a plan WHAT IS REWILDING? 25. Heath mouse right here, right Rewilding is a conservation strategy that lets nature take care of 26. Southern bush rat now, that could be itself, allowing natural processes to repair damaged ecosystems, 27. Pale field rat a real game changer restore degraded landscapes and create wilder, more biodiverse for conservation habitats. New in Australia, it has been successfully implemented in in Australia.” North America and in Europe where it instigated a wildlife comeback. JUST TWO MAMMAL SPECIES REMAIN –Darren Grover, Head of Living The rewilding of Southern Yorke Peninsula is a 25-year project, with • Eastern grey kangaroo Ecosystems, WWF-Australia the staged reintroduction of key native species to the landscape. • Eastern pygmy possum • + ferals THE KEYS TO SUCCESS: NEXT STAGES Rewilding Yorke is all about the gradual reintroduction of locally extinct native species, which over time will restart many of the natural processes that are currently missing. As well as soil engineers like the woylie, further IF WE UNDERTAKE REWILDING NOW, key reintroductions include: WE CAN ACHIEVE TWO GOALS: POLLINATORS AND NATIVE VEGETATION SAVING OUR SPECIES AND SEED DISPERSERS AND © WWF-AUS / DARREN GROVER CROPPING Plant CONSERVING ECOSYSTEMS regeneration is vital to maintaining WWF, © KLEIN & HUBERT WWF, a healthy ecosystem. Other species to be STAGE ONE: IT ALL BEGINS WITH REINTRODUCING THE WOYLIE PROTECTING OUR NATIVE SPECIES reintroduced to promote SOIL ENGINEERS Woylies, or brush-tailed bettongs, are soil engineers – native species that © FREE VECTOR MAPS.COM this process include the heath mouse, © SABRINA TROCINI / WWF-AUS The problem: constant create shallow diggings in the soil in their search for food. Now extinct immigration of feral bilby, numbat, possums and dunnarts. from southern Yorke Peninsula, the return of the woylie will bring a predators. two-fold benefit: “If this project goes well, there will also With its unique location, and be potential for species to naturally • The first will be to increase nutrient turnover in soils, improve because of the narrowness of reintroduce themselves back into Stage 2 this landscape, especially birds.” soil moisture, and create micro-habitat conditions for native plant (28 km fence) the peninsula, Southern Yorke seedlings. can easily be transformed – Darren Grover, Head of Living Ecosystems, WWF-Australia Stage 1 into a mainland island, and • The second will be to create insurance populations – a vital move to (17 km fence) isolated from threats. In Stage help reduce the risk of their global extinction. one, a 17 km long strategic PREDATORS PEST Woylies were once found throughout southern Australia, but with only fence will be built, to move feral animals to areas PHOTOGRAPHY / WWF-AUS NATURE © CHRIS FARRELL MANAGEMENT a handful of populations left, they are now highly endangered. When of targeted control, and stop them from re-entering Predators play populations become this small and isolated, they are at great risk of the peninsula. The hope is that Southern Yorke will an important role being wiped out in a single catastrophic episode like a bushfire or disease become a150,000-plus hectare area of biodiversity – an in ecosystems outbreak. Hence the need to create a new ‘insurance’ population on Yorke incredible sanctuary that will attract sustainable tourism because they Peninsula to safeguard their survival. where visitors can see a wide range of native wildlife. help control introduced Although costly, the provision of remote cameras will be pest species. One woylie can shift up Taking it in stages critical at this stage for monitoring wildlife, especially And like the to four tonnes of soil a Stage one will see the release of 50 to 100 woylies, a combination of nocturnal species, and recording changes in the year as it forages. soil engineers, captive bred and wild animals that will come from Western Australia, landscape. they prefer to from an island just off Yorke Peninsula, and from Monarto open range “This is the next remain in native zoo in South Australia. In harmony with nature engineer being vegetation. Crucial to this phase will be prepared to go back Like kangaroos, woylies only have one joey at a time. But when the Despite being one of Australia’s most productive dryland the reintroduction of a small carnivorous predator – either the western quoll or the into the wild, back conditions are good they will breed quickly, producing up to four joeys agricultural areas, the tip of Yorke Peninsula is also red-tailed phascogale – to help control to the Aussie bush.” in a year. A key part of the project is keeping the new population closely a biodiversity hotspot, filled with high-quality native mice in native scrub. They will join the –Darren Grover, Head of Living monitored: cost-permitting, many of the woylies will have radio collars to bushland. This ground breaking project will allow existing barn owls that forage over fields Ecosystems, WWF-Australia agriculture to exist side by side with a thriving, rewilded track their movements, and with the help of sensor cameras, teams can and paddocks, feeding on pest species. To immediately tell if a female is carrying a joey. national park, symbolising WWF’s mission of helping people live in harmony with nature. increase the number of owls over time, nest The southern brown bandicoot – another ecosystem engineer – boxes will be put up around the peninsula is expected to be reintroduced in two to three years’ time. to ensure more baby owls are surviving. Q&A WITH DARREN GROVER YOUR GIFT CAN BRING BACK THE WOYLIES TO YORKE PENINSULA “ THE REWILDING YORKE PROJECT IS A POTENTIAL GAME-CHANGER ¬© KANYANA WILDLIFE REHABILITATION CENTRE It’s a bold plan: but FOR AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATION.” © WWF-AUS / DARREN GROVER –Darren Grover, Head of Living Ecosystems, WWF-Australia your gift will lay the foundation to save this unique Australian landscape and its precious wildlife. Is this an Australian first? An enormous amount of work has already been done to prepare and improve the area, including Of this scale – yes. There have been one-off a fox and rabbit management program across REWILDING YORKE PROJECT: reintroductions in the past, but with this project, the whole of the peninsula. This program has we have the potential to reintroduce 10 or more been highly successful, with stable populations OUR 20 YEAR VISION species over the next 10 to 15 years. This has the of mallee fowl and tammar wallabies recorded, potential to be a real game-changer in terms of $1,000 the re-appearance of echidnas, and bush stone- wildlife conservation. YEARS 1-5 curlews – following a 40-year absence – as well Can help towards purchasing This is not simply trying to hold back the tide. as a 30 per cent increase in the survival of lambs. • Fence 40 radio GPS collars This is moving forward and taking on extinction Because we are able to close it off with a physical • Soil engineers at its own game.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Black-Footed Rock Wallaby Factsheet
    BLACK-FOOTED ROCK WALLABY FACTSHEET Black-footed rock wallabies are highly agile Brush-tailed rock wallabies are closely related The Threatened Species Network is a macropods able to move bound expertly to the Rothschild's rock wallaby and like them, community-based through very rugged and steep areas. They are very timid, never venturing far from their program of the are found in the arid zone of Central Australia. rock shelters. The two species can be Australian Once widespread in the central desert regions distinguished by to the dorsal stripe, which is Government’s Natural of the Northern Territory, South Australia and not present on the Rothschild's rock wallaby. Heritage Trust and Western Australia, the black-footed rock WWF Australia. wallaby is now found in only a few scattered locations. Where do they live? Black-footed rock wallabies live in rocky escarpment country, gorges, granite outcrops, What do they look like? sandstone cliffs and scree slopes in ranges Black-footed rock wallabies grow to just half a with hummock grassland, occasional fig trees metre tall. They are smaller and much more and low shrubs, caves and coastal limestone finely built than euros (common wallaroo), cliffs. They rely on narrow crevices and small which are found in caves for shelter similar areas. and protection from predators. There are five subspecies of the The stronghold of black-footed rock black-footed rock wallaby, which are wallabies is in the distinguished by their MacDonnell Range geographic range and near Alice Springs differences in their size in the Northern and fur colouration. Territory.
    [Show full text]
  • Red-Necked Wallaby (Bennett’S Wallaby) Macropus Rufogriseus
    Red-necked Wallaby (Bennett’s Wallaby) Macropus rufogriseus Class: Mammalia Order: Diprotodontia Family: Macropodidae Characteristics: Red-necked wallabies get their name from the red fur on the back of their neck. They are also differentiated from other wallabies by the white cheek patches and larger size compared to other wallaby species (Bioweb). The red-necked wallaby’s body fur is grey to reddish in color with a white or pale grey belly. Their muzzle, paws and toes are black (Australia Zoo). Wallabies look like smaller kangaroos with their large hindquarters, short forelimbs, and long, muscular tails. The average size of this species is 27-32 inches in the body with a tail length of 20-28 inches. The females weigh about 25 pounds while the males weigh significantly more at 40 pounds. The females differ from the males of the species in that they have a forward opening pouch (Sacramento Zoo). Range & Habitat: Flat, high-ground eucalyptus Behavior: Red-necked wallabies are most active at dawn and dusk to avoid forests near open grassy areas in the mid-day heat. In the heat, they will lick their hands and forearms to Tasmania and South-eastern promote heat loss. (Animal Diversity) These wallabies are generally solitary Australia. but do forage in small groups. The males will have boxing matches with one another to determine social hierarchy within populations. They can often be seen punching, wrestling, skipping, dancing, standing upright, grabbing, sparring, pawing, and kicking. All members of the kangaroo and wallaby family travel by hopping. Red-necked wallabies can hop up to 6 feet in the air.
    [Show full text]
  • Can Kangaroos Survive in the Wheatbelt?
    Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Volume 31 Number 1 1990 Article 4 1-1-1990 Can kangaroos survive in the wheatbelt? Graham Arnold Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, and the Other Animal Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Arnold, Graham (1990) "Can kangaroos survive in the wheatbelt?," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 31 : No. 1 , Article 4. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol31/iss1/4 This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Can kangaroos survive in the wheaibelt? mm mmmm By Graham Arnold, Senior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology, Helena Valley One of the costs of agricultural development in Western Australia over the past 100 years has been the loss of most of the native vegetation and, consequently, massive reductions in the numbers of most of our native fauna. Thirteen mammal species are extinct and many bird and mammal species are extinct in some areas. These losses will increase as remnant native vegetation degrades under the impact of nutrients washed and blown from farmland, from the invasion by Western grey kangaroo grazing weeds and from grazing sheep. on pasture in the early morning. Even kangaroos are affected.
    [Show full text]
  • Tammar Wallaby Macropus Eugenii (Desmarest, 1817)
    Tammar Wallaby Macropus eugenii (Desmarest, 1817) Description Dark, grizzled grey-brown above, becoming rufous on the sides of the body and the limbs, especially in males. Pale grey-buff below. Other Common Names Dama Wallaby (South Australia) Distribution The Western Australian subspecies of the Tammar Wallaby was previously distributed throughout most of the south-west of Western Australia from Kalbarri National Park to Cape Arid on the south coast Photo: Babs & Bert Wells/DEC and extending to western parts of the Wheat belt. Size The Tammar Wallaby is currently known to inhabit three islands in the Houtman Abrolhos group (East and West Wallabi Island, and an introduced population on North Island), Garden Island near Perth, Kangaroo Island wallabies Middle and North Twin Peak Islands in the Archipelago of the Head and body length Recherche, and several sites on the mainland - including, Dryandra, Boyagin, Tutanning, Batalling (reintroduced), Perup, private property 590-680 mm in males near Pingelly, Jaloran Road timber reserve near Wagin, Hopetoun, 520-630 mm in females Stirling Range National Park, and Fitzgerald River National Park. The Tammar Wallaby remains relatively abundant at these sites which Tail length are subject to fox control. 380-450 mm in males They have been reintroduced to the Darling scarp near Dwellingup, 330-440 mm in females Julimar Forest near Bindoon, state forest east of Manjimup, Avon Valley National Park, Walyunga National Park, Nambung National Park and to Karakamia and Paruna Sanctuaries. Weight For further information regarding the distribution of this species Western Australian wallabies please refer to www.naturemap.dec.wa.gov.au 2.9-6.1 kg in males Habitat 2.3-4.3 kg in females Dense, low vegetation for daytime shelter and open grassy areas for feeding.
    [Show full text]
  • Antipredator Behaviour of Red-Necked Pademelons: a Factor Contributing to Species Survival?
    Animal Conservation (2002) 5, 325–331 © 2002 The Zoological Society of London DOI:10.1017/S1367943002004080 Printed in the United Kingdom Antipredator behaviour of red-necked pademelons: a factor contributing to species survival? Daniel T. Blumstein1,2, Janice C. Daniel1,2, Marcus R. Schnell2,3, Jodie G. Ardron2,4 and Christopher S. Evans4 1 Department of Organismic Biology, Ecology and Evolution, 621 Charles E. Young Drive South, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA 2 Cooperative Research Centre for the Conservation and Management of Marsupials, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia 3 Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia 4 Department of Psychology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia (Received 15 January 2002; accepted 17 June 2002) Abstract Australian mammals have one of the world’s worst records of recent extinctions. A number of stud- ies have demonstrated that red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) have a profound effect on the population biol- ogy of some species. However, not all species exposed to fox predation have declined. We studied the antipredator behaviour of a species that has not declined – the red-necked pademelon (Thylogale thetis), and contrasted it with previous studies on a species that has declined – the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), to try to understand behavioural factors associated with survival. We focused on two antipredator behaviours: predator recognition and the way in which antipredator vigilance is influ- enced by the presence of conspecifics. We found that predator-naïve pademelons responded to the sight of certain predators, suggesting that they had some degree of innate recognition ability.
    [Show full text]
  • New Operational Taxonomic Units of Enterocytozoon in Three Marsupial Species Yan Zhang1, Anson V
    Zhang et al. Parasites & Vectors (2018) 11:371 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-018-2954-x RESEARCH Open Access New operational taxonomic units of Enterocytozoon in three marsupial species Yan Zhang1, Anson V. Koehler1* , Tao Wang1, Shane R. Haydon2 and Robin B. Gasser1* Abstract Background: Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a microsporidian, commonly found in animals, including humans, in various countries. However, there is scant information about this microorganism in Australasia. In the present study, we conducted the first molecular epidemiological investigation of E. bieneusi in three species of marsupials (Macropus giganteus, Vombatus ursinus and Wallabia bicolor) living in the catchment regions which supply the city of Melbourne with drinking water. Methods: Genomic DNAs were extracted from 1365 individual faecal deposits from these marsupials, including common wombat (n = 315), eastern grey kangaroo (n = 647) and swamp wallaby (n = 403) from 11 catchment areas, and then individually tested using a nested PCR-based sequencing approach employing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and small subunit (SSU) of nuclear ribosomal DNA as genetic markers. Results: Enterocytozoon bieneusi was detected in 19 of the 1365 faecal samples (1.39%) from wombat (n =1), kangaroos (n = 13) and wallabies (n =5).TheanalysisofITS sequence data revealed a known (designated NCF2) and four new (MWC_m1 to MWC_m4) genotypes of E. bieneusi. Phylogenetic analysis of ITS sequence data sets showed that MWC_m1 (from wombat) clustered with NCF2, whereas genotypes MWC_m2 (kangaroo and wallaby), MWC_m3 (wallaby) and MWC_m4 (kangaroo) formed a new, divergent clade. Phylogenetic analysis of SSU sequence data revealed that genotypes MWC_m3 and MWC_m4 formed a clade that was distinct from E.
    [Show full text]
  • Macropod Herpesviruses Dec 2013
    Herpesviruses and macropods Fact sheet Introductory statement Despite the widespread distribution of herpesviruses across a large range of macropod species there is a lack of detailed knowledge about these viruses and the effects they have on their hosts. While they have been associated with significant mortality events infections are usually benign, producing no or minimal clinical effects in their adapted hosts. With increasing emphasis being placed on captive breeding, reintroduction and translocation programs there is a greater likelihood that these viruses will be introduced into naïve macropod populations. The effects and implications of this type of viral movement are unclear. Aetiology Herpesviruses are enveloped DNA viruses that range in size from 120 to 250nm. The family Herpesviridae is divided into three subfamilies. Alphaherpesviruses have a moderately wide host range, rapid growth, lyse infected cells and have the capacity to establish latent infections primarily, but not exclusively, in nerve ganglia. Betaherpesviruses have a more restricted host range, a long replicative cycle, the capacity to cause infected cells to enlarge and the ability to form latent infections in secretory glands, lymphoreticular tissue, kidneys and other tissues. Gammaherpesviruses have a narrow host range, replicate in lymphoid cells, may induce neoplasia in infected cells and form latent infections in lymphoid tissue (Lachlan and Dubovi 2011, Roizman and Pellet 2001). There have been five herpesvirus species isolated from macropods, three alphaherpesviruses termed Macropodid Herpesvirus 1 (MaHV1), Macropodid Herpesvirus 2 (MaHV2), and Macropodid Herpesvirus 4 (MaHV4) and two gammaherpesviruses including Macropodid Herpesvirus 3 (MaHV3), and a currently unclassified novel gammaherpesvirus detected in swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) (Callinan and Kefford 1981, Finnie et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Feratox® As a Humane Control Agent for Wallabies in Tasmania
    Feratox® as a Humane Control Agent for Wallabies in Tasmania Mick Statham Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, and Mt. Pleasant Labs, Kings Meadows, Tasmania, Australia Charles T. Eason Dept. of Ecology, Lincoln University, Lincoln, and Connovation Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand Helen L. Statham Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia Lee Shapiro and Duncan MacMorran Connovation Research Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand ABSTRACT: Compound 1080 has been used to control native wallabies and possums in Tasmania for over 50 years. Public concern in relation to humaneness and its effects on domestic dogs and nontarget species has led to opposition to its use. Feratox®, a form of encapsulated cyanide pellet registered for brushtail possum control in New Zealand, was considered as a replacement toxin. Trials in New Zealand showed that the material is fast-acting and humane in wallabies. In Tasmania, protocols were developed using bait stations that would minimise access by nontarget macropods and wombats. In field trials using Feratox®, however, there was excessive spillage of toxic pellets and variation in bait take between seasons by Tasmanian pademelons. Further work is under way to resolve these issues to see if protocols can be developed for the safe and effective use of cyanide pellets in areas where nontarget mammals are prevalent. KEY WORDS: Australia, bait development, Bennett’s wallaby, brushtail possum, Feratox®, humane toxicants, Macropus rufogriseus, New Zealand, nontarget species, poisons, potassium cyanide, Tasmania, Tasmanian pademelon, Thylogale billardierii, Trichosurus vulpecula, wallaby Proc. 24th Vertebr. Pest Conf. (R. M. Timm and K. A.
    [Show full text]
  • Platypus Collins, L.R
    AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS BIOLOGY AND CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT Stephen Jackson © CSIRO 2003 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Contact CSIRO PUBLISHING for all permission requests. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Jackson, Stephen M. Australian mammals: Biology and captive management Bibliography. ISBN 0 643 06635 7. 1. Mammals – Australia. 2. Captive mammals. I. Title. 599.0994 Available from CSIRO PUBLISHING 150 Oxford Street (PO Box 1139) Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia Telephone: +61 3 9662 7666 Local call: 1300 788 000 (Australia only) Fax: +61 3 9662 7555 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.publish.csiro.au Cover photos courtesy Stephen Jackson, Esther Beaton and Nick Alexander Set in Minion and Optima Cover and text design by James Kelly Typeset by Desktop Concepts Pty Ltd Printed in Australia by Ligare REFERENCES reserved. Chapter 1 – Platypus Collins, L.R. (1973) Monotremes and Marsupials: A Reference for Zoological Institutions. Smithsonian Institution Press, rights Austin, M.A. (1997) A Practical Guide to the Successful Washington. All Handrearing of Tasmanian Marsupials. Regal Publications, Collins, G.H., Whittington, R.J. & Canfield, P.J. (1986) Melbourne. Theileria ornithorhynchi Mackerras, 1959 in the platypus, 2003. Beaven, M. (1997) Hand rearing of a juvenile platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Shaw). Journal of Wildlife Proceedings of the ASZK/ARAZPA Conference. 16–20 March.
    [Show full text]
  • Dama Wallaby Sustainable Macropus Eugenii Options Pest Animal Control 16
    Dama wallaby Sustainable Macropus eugenii Options Pest Animal Control 16 Dama wallaby are also known as; Tammar, silver-grey or Kangaroo Island wallaby. Description One of the smallest wallaby species, dama wallaby stand up to half a metre tall. Adult females weigh around 5 kilograms, while males can weigh up to 7 kilograms. They are grey-brown in colour with a paler grey underbelly. A thin white-silver stripe runs from under the eye to the nose. Mature animals may have a patch of reddish brown colouring at the shoulder. 30 mm Field sign Dama wallaby prints in soft mud Wallaby droppings In areas of sand or soft soil, the long narrow hind feet and tail of wallaby leave a characteristic track. The footprint of a wallaby is a two-pronged print with a large central toe extending further than the outer toe. Their faecal pellets are also comparatively distinctive, slightly larger than an individual deer pellet and often a tear-drop shape. Origin Formerly widespread in southern mainland Australia, dama wallaby are now restricted to south-western Western Australia and southern South Australia. Wallaby were first introduced to New Zealand around 1870 by Sir George Grey, when they were released onto Kawau Island. Dama wallaby, sourced from Kawau Island, were subsequently liberated near Lake Ōkāreka in 1912. Where are they found? Dama wallaby have become established in both exotic and native forest or scrub. Since 1912, they have spread west to Rotorua, east to Kawerau and south to about Rainbow Mountain; an area of approximately 200,000 ha. To the right is a map of the known distribution of wallabies, as at January 2012.
    [Show full text]
  • Post-Release Monitoring of Western Grey Kangaroos (Macropus Fuliginosus) Relocated from an Urban Development Site
    animals Article Post-Release Monitoring of Western Grey Kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) Relocated from an Urban Development Site Mark Cowan 1,* , Mark Blythman 1, John Angus 1 and Lesley Gibson 2 1 Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Wildlife Research Centre, Woodvale, WA 6026, Australia; [email protected] (M.B.); [email protected] (J.A.) 2 Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +61-8-9405-5141 Received: 31 August 2020; Accepted: 5 October 2020; Published: 19 October 2020 Simple Summary: As a result of urban development, 122 western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) were relocated from the outskirts of Perth, Western Australia, to a nearby forest. Tracking collars were fitted to 67 of the kangaroos to monitor survival rates and movement patterns over 12 months. Spotlighting and camera traps were used as a secondary monitoring technique particularly for those kangaroos without collars. The survival rate of kangaroos was poor, with an estimated 80% dying within the first month following relocation and only six collared kangaroos surviving for up to 12 months. This result implicates stress associated with the capture, handling, and transport of animals as the likely cause. The unexpected rapid rate of mortality emphasises the importance of minimising stress when undertaking animal relocations. Abstract: The expansion of urban areas and associated clearing of habitat can have severe consequences for native wildlife. One option for managing wildlife in these situations is to relocate them.
    [Show full text]
  • Ba3444 MAMMAL BOOKLET FINAL.Indd
    Intot Obliv i The disappearing native mammals of northern Australia Compiled by James Fitzsimons Sarah Legge Barry Traill John Woinarski Into Oblivion? The disappearing native mammals of northern Australia 1 SUMMARY Since European settlement, the deepest loss of Australian biodiversity has been the spate of extinctions of endemic mammals. Historically, these losses occurred mostly in inland and in temperate parts of the country, and largely between 1890 and 1950. A new wave of extinctions is now threatening Australian mammals, this time in northern Australia. Many mammal species are in sharp decline across the north, even in extensive natural areas managed primarily for conservation. The main evidence of this decline comes consistently from two contrasting sources: robust scientifi c monitoring programs and more broad-scale Indigenous knowledge. The main drivers of the mammal decline in northern Australia include inappropriate fi re regimes (too much fi re) and predation by feral cats. Cane Toads are also implicated, particularly to the recent catastrophic decline of the Northern Quoll. Furthermore, some impacts are due to vegetation changes associated with the pastoral industry. Disease could also be a factor, but to date there is little evidence for or against it. Based on current trends, many native mammals will become extinct in northern Australia in the next 10-20 years, and even the largest and most iconic national parks in northern Australia will lose native mammal species. This problem needs to be solved. The fi rst step towards a solution is to recognise the problem, and this publication seeks to alert the Australian community and decision makers to this urgent issue.
    [Show full text]