On The Brink What’s Inside Issue Your impact project Past Projects: 2017/18 update: Stage 2 Where are complete they now? 03 p3 p8 p11 2018 These figures are staggering and It paints a picture not of despair, but of unfortunately are a stark reality, not a optimism. As a Company, FAME continues fictitious tale of woe. Stopping extinctions to strengthen, and provide the capability to and ensuring that future generations, your fund more on-ground conservation projects. children and grandchildren, will not be This gives me hope because together forced to view many species of Australian we are demonstrating we can fauna only in natural history museums or make a difference to the world. see some plants only as dried specimens in herbaria is now an urgent matter. In our 25th year the FAME Board, management and staff have had the We cannot sit idly by and allow the extinction Optimism and opportunity to meet many of our donors of any more Australian plants and across Australia. It has been a wonderful Celebration: and that’s why it’s vitally important we ensure opportunity to speak personally to you strong plans are in place, properly funded, all and hear both your anecdotes and Making a difference and in capable and accountable hands. passions in relation to the Foundation together To that end, FAME has launched an and all we have achieved together. exciting and ambitious new campaign It has been a very special time for me As more of our precious flora and fauna are targeting FAME’s 2019 Top Ten Endangered as CEO meeting you all, and I look battling to avoid becoming extinct in the wild Species - the ones we know we can forward in the future to having the through loss of habitat or predation, the list of revive through implementation of opportunity to meet many more of you. species classified as vulnerable, endangered or science-based recovery plans. These Finally, and most importantly, I would like critically endangered continues to grow and so species are outlined on pages 6 and 7. too do the demands for the funding of projects to thank all our donors and stakeholders to save these species. Although, with your help, With our vision to prevent any further for your support. FAME is completely we have tackled many projects, stopping extinctions of Australia’s endangered donor-funded so, without you, we the extinction of many, but there is still more. flora and fauna, FAME has committed to cannot do this amazing work. projects involving our identified 2019 Top Ten As we continue over the next 25 years to Altogether, there are 1,866 species of Endangered Species that will ensure these create awareness by bringing the fate of fauna and flora listed under the EPBC species have a greater chance of survival. Act. The breakdown is shown below: our precious endangered native species Through implementing the recovery actions to the forefront, we can only hope that the There are 1,866 threatened species of fauna and for FAME’s 2019 Top Ten Endangered current state of play improves. By achieving flora listed under the Environment Protection and Species, we can make a difference. conservation success as a community, Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act)* They all now need our support. I do hope we can work towards halting the rate of 8 1 Conservation Extinct you will join me and consider making a extinction of Australian flora and fauna. Dependent in wild tax-deductible donation to the appeal. At FAME, we believe that together it 91 At this year’s Annual General Meeting I was can be done. Extinct 258 pleased to report on the impact of your Critically Endangered support. The 2017/18 financial year ended Tracy McNamara 797 with our income amounting to $1,344,510. Chief Executive Officer Vulnerable I have included an overview of your 711 impact on page 3. A snapshot of Endangered our financial year shows that a combination of many large and small donors, stakeholders and partners * Data as at Nov 2018. For more info visit: together can make a real difference. www.environment.gov.au/epbc/about/epbc-act-lists

The FAME Newsletter is published by Every effort has been made to ensure the Foundation for Australia’s Most the accuracy of the content within this About FAME newsletter. We apologise for any omissions Endangered Species Ltd. FAME is an independent, non-profit or errors that may have occurred. ABN 79 154 823 579 organisation based in South Australia but operating across the country. Level 1, 47 Tynte Street North Adelaide 5006, SA Follow us on social media FAME is completely donor 08 8374 1744 funded; our work is only possible because of the generosity of our [email protected] www.fame.org.au community who support us. For this we are grateful. Donations to FAME are tax-deductible under relevant Australian legislation. 2 Your Impact 2017/18

In 2017/2018 you gave An increase of Individual donations $1,326,930 97.2% 2906 on the previous year

Since 1993, with your help we Projects we have funded Donations received from have successfully completed 9 5 Countries 30 Projects

NT WA ACT 1% 3% 4%

VIC 27% NSW 30% Giving by state in Australia

TAS 2% QLD SA 11% 20%

25 YEARS OF SAVING OUR ENDANGERED FLORA AND FAUNA 3 Macadamia jansenii (Bulburin Nut) NEW PROJECT: was only recognised by the modern scientific community in 1992 after being Securing identified and described by respected the future of amateur naturalist Ray Jansen. Recent effort has concentrated on Australia's most genetic analysis and habitat modelling to design a reintroduction program to create endangered new populations in its natural habitat. macadamia Why is it urgent to protect Macadamia STATE: QLD jansenii from extinction? SPECIES: Bulburin Nut species The macadamia nut is a national icon of Australia. It is an important part of STATUS: Endangered It is one of Australia’s most endangered our country's history and culture and is species, with only 90 known trees of one of very few Australian native foods the Macadamia jansenii remaining in a to be exported all over the world. 6000m2 area of natural habitat. More specifically, Macadamia jansenii The danger of extinction of this precious is part of an ecosystem providing habitat flora is real. The small natural population for a complex range of other native of the Macadamia jansenii remains flora and fauna species, including extremely vulnerable to destruction by a the Spotted-tailed , the Silver-

catastrophic event such as fire or disease. headed (both endangered) and the vulnerable Tusked Frog. In partnership with FAME and the Macadamia Conservation Trust this Important work is now underway to reintroduction program is under way propagate Bulburin Nut trees to create with the involvement of the Gidarjil insurance populations that will guard Rangers (Traditional Owners of against the extinction of this endangered M. jansenii habitat), the Queensland macadamia nut species.ready for Parks and Wildlife Service, the University release into predator-proof fenced of the Sunshine Coast and the Tondoon 64 ha and 400 ha sanctuaries. Young Macadamia jansenii plants Botanic Gardens at Gladstone. Animals are expected to be released at the Tondoon Botanic Gardens. into the 400 ha sanctuary in early 2019.

All Devils live in wild environments, with Saving the minimal contact with humans, thus enabling them to retain wild behaviours to Tassie Devil ensure their successful survival if returned from extinction home to Tasmania when the time is right. Currently classified as endangered It's been an extremely busy but rewarding (EPBC Act, 1999), the Tasmanian Devil is time of the year for Devil Ark. This year, under threat from a transmissible disease the Ark has welcomed its 300th joey! called Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). In another successful year for Devil Ark, In Tasmania, the disease has reduced the STATE: NSW located at Barrington Tops, NSW, a total of wild population to less than 10% in some 48 Tasmanian Devils were born, and they areas. DFTD continues to reduce the SPECIES: Tasmanian Devil will help to ensure survival of the species. endangered Tasmanian Devil population. With still no cure or vaccine in sight and a STATUS: Endangered 2018 Devil joeys are nearing their natural continuing population decline, insurance weaning age where they are big enough programs like Devil Ark are the species’s to leave mum and venture out alone. Tasmanian Devil joey, best hope for long-term survival. Devil Ark, All Tasmanian Devils at the Ark will be ‘Dash’ born in 2018. which began in 2011 with 44 foundation caught in November by Devil Ark staff animals, now holds an impressive 52% and will be checked to ensure optimum of the mainland insurance population, health. They will be then placed into new being approximately 150 animals. social groups for the upcoming breeding season. Young Devils will be placed with Devils of their size and age where they will learn important social skills. 4 organic mixing and improving nutrient Building a future availability for plants. These animals also help spread fungi through the for threatened ecosystem, which assist plants to increase nutrient absorption. species Bandicoots are multi-oestrus, meaning Aussie Ark is celebrating having completed they breed several times during the year. the final pouch-check of their Southern Females can give birth to as many as five Brown Bandicoots, bringing their final babies, but usually only one or two survive. count to 12 joeys born in the program. Their gestation period is very short, about 11 days, the shortest of any . STATE: NSW Keepers were happy to confirm that a pouch of twins had successfully survived. The young are born very tiny and under- SPECIES: Long-nosed developed (about 1 cm in length) and stay Potoroo, Eastern Bettong, The largest of the Bandicoots, this species in the mother’s pouch for approximately was once widespread along the coast 2 months. At birth, they use their relatively Southern Brown Bandicoot of Northern NSW, QLD, NT and the tip of well-developed forelimbs to reach the STATUS: Long-nosed Western Australia. However, like many other pouch. Here they drink milk from the Potoroo (Vulnerable), Australian , the Bandicoot family mother’s teats and grow until they are has lost several species since European large enough to leave the pouch. Eastern Bettong (Extinct settlement because of land clearing and At about three months they can begin to in NSW), Southern Brown the introduction of predators such as live independently. Bandicoot pouches are Bandicoot (Endangered) foxes, dogs and cats. Of the estimated 12 open at the back, to stop dirt entering the Bandicoot species once present prior to pouch when the mother digs. colonisation of the continent, approximately Ms Shute also comments, “We’ve just half are now either extinct or threatened. completed our first breeding season for our

Aussie Ark Keeper Hayley Shute bandicoots at Aussie Ark; we’ve got 12 joeys

says, “Bandicoots are the unsung and we couldn’t be happier with the result.”

heroes of the Australian bush. They Since opening Aussie Ark in 2017, the team turn over the soil, which is really important for optimal plant growth.” have established an insurance population ready for release into predator-proof The Southern Brown Bandicoot is an fenced 64 ha and 400 ha sanctuaries. ecological engineer. It helps aerate soil Animals are expected to be released Southern Brown Bandicoot and leaf litter, thus assisting natural litter into the 400 ha sanctuary in early 2019. breakdown, penetration of seedlings,

One of the records is from a site located Finding the within the De Mole catchment in the north west of the Island. Kangaroo Island elusive Kangaroo haven’t been recorded this far north previously and extensive surveys Island across neighbouring De Mole catchment private properties have commenced to With FAME’s support, the Kangaroo Island gain a better understanding of this new (KI) Land for Wildlife program coordinated north western population distribution. by Terrain Ecology has been surveying bushland for the endangered Kangaroo While the focus is to survey for the Dunnart, STATE: SA Island Dunnart. The land being surveyed is other threatened Kangaroo Island species owned by private landholders who have including the Bassian thrush, Southern SPECIES: Kangaroo a goal to better manage their bushland Brown Bandicoot and Rosenberg’s Island Dunnart for the conservation of Kangaroo Island’s Goanna are also being captured. threatened and endangered native wildlife. Monitoring of their threats is ongoing with STATUS: Endangered a focus on feral cats and phytophthora Over 3,000 survey nights have been dieback. Management activities to reduce completed across 2,400 hectares. these threats within Kangaroo Island To date, 19 records of the Kangaroo Dunnart known habitat has commenced. Island Dunnart have now been confirmed. These recordings have been from four different sites and have provided better understanding of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart endangered Dunnarts distribution within western Kangaroo Island bushland.

25 YEARS OF SAVING OUR ENDANGERED FLORA AND FAUNA 5 Action for FAME’s 2019 Top Ten Endangered Species!

Western Quoll Dasyurus geoffroii Project Location: Ikara-Flinders Ranges, SA. Population: Regionally extinct (before reintroduction). Threat: Predation by cats. Urgent Action Required: Building population. Control of feral cats.

Kangaroo Island Dunnart Sminthopsis aitkeni Project Location: Kangaroo Island, SA. Population: Est. less than 500. Threat: Predation by cats, wildfire, habitat loss. Urgent Action Required: Identifying remaining populations. Control of feral cats.

Numbat Myrmecobius fasciatus Project Location: Wheatbelt, WA Population: Est. 1,500 remaining in the wild. Threat: Predation by cats. Urgent Action Required: Training dogs to detect feral cats. Control of feral cats.

Eastern Bettong Bettongia gaimardi Project Location: Barrington Tops, NSW. Population: Classified as near threatened in Tasmania, the mainland population became extinct in the 1920s. Threat: Predation by dogs, foxes and cats. Urgent Action Required: Reintroduction behind predator proof fence. Tall Astelia Astelia australiana Project Location: Otway Ranges, VIC. Population: Restricted to 13 sites in the Central Highlands and one in the Otway Ranges. Threat: Wildfire, Sambar Deer (herbivory). Urgent Action Required: Reintroduction to create additional populations.

6 *Designated sites of projects give general locations only.

Southern Cassowary Casuarius casuarius johnsonii Project Location: Daintree Lowland Rainforest, QLD. Population: Est. 4,500 remaining in the wild. Threat: Loss of habitat, pigs, dogs, vehicle strikes. Urgent Action Required: Habitat restoration through tree planting. Monitoring by camera trapping.

Bulberin Nut Macadamia jansenii Project Location: Bulburin National Park and locations near Gladstone, QLD. Population: One stand of 90 trees in Bulburin National Park. Threat: Wildfire, disease. Urgent Action Required: Reintroduction to create two additional insurance populations. Long-nosed Potoroo Potorous tridactylus Project Location: Barrington Tops, NSW. Population: Distribution greatly reduced and now locally extinct in many parts of its former range. Threat: Predation by dogs, foxes and cats. Urgent Action Required: Reintroduction behind predator proof fence.

Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus Project Location: Barrington Tops, NSW. Population: Distribution greatly reduced and now locally extinct in many parts of its former range. Threat: Predation by dogs, foxes and cats. Urgent Action Required: Reintroduction behind predator proof fence. Tasmanian Devil harrisi Project Location: Barrington Tops, NSW. Forestier Peninsula, Tasmania. Population: Est. 10,000–25,500 in the wild. Threat: Disease. Urgent Action Required: Safeguarding a disease-free population in NSW and continual reintroduction into Tasmania.

25 YEARS OF SAVING OUR ENDANGERED FLORA AND FAUNA 7 Baby . Photo credit: Rob McLean

STATE: WA SPECIES: Numbat STATUS: Endangered

consisting of a dog, a handler and a of environment and we will test these Protecting the support person) searched the area along parameters during the next stage of the pre-determined transects that were project to see how effective this tool is. last remaining 100m apart. The time it took the dogs Additionally, nearly 100 remote-sensing to locate the scats, if they were able cameras have been deployed to monitor wild populations to, the distance from the transect and introduced predators, Numbats and environmental variables like wind direction other threatened fauna. Two dedicated of Numbats: and strength, humidity, temperature and community groups, the Numbat Taskforce rainfall were all recorded. The results were and Project Numbat, have joined the Stage 2 complete analysed to determine the probability project and are providing invaluable of detecting a scat and to identify the support for the camera monitoring. The Numbat Protection Dog project, variables that influence success. funded in partnership with FAME and Thanks to the Western Australian The dog teams searched 399 quadrats the Australian Government, aims to Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and were able to detect scats in 213 (53%) protect some of the last remaining wild and Attractions for providing this update. populations of Numbats that live in of them. It took on average 12.7 minutes for unfenced reserves. It is progressing well. a dog to find the scat, with little variation in the performance of individual dogs. In May 2018, stage two of the Numbat Wind variables impacted the search time project to test the efficiency of detector a little and it was faster for the dog to find Key highlights dogs to locate cat scent was undertaken scats when the weather was cooler. The To date, the study has answered in Tutanning Nature Reserve, located in the likelihood of detecting a scat declined the following questions: Wheatbelt of Western Australia. Tutanning with the distance at which the dog was and a small number of other reserves from the scat and with the age of the scat. • Detector dogs are capable in the Wheatbelt are vital because they Scats were much harder to find when they of detecting cat scats in the still support rare species like Numbats were greater than 20 days old. wheatbelt environment, and Woylies, but feral cats remain a problem for these threatened species. This project is one of the first of its kind • Feral cat activity on the and has provided great insights into how reserves may not be as high It had been suggested that detector dogs might be used in this environment to as initially suspected with the dogs may provide a new tool to control feral cats. We are now confident feral cats spending the majority combat the feral cat, but first the ability that it is possible for detector dogs to of their time off-reserve in of detector dogs to locate cat scent work effectively in this type of habitat adjacent farmlands, and and communicate their finds to their to pick up feral cat scent and the next Detector dogs are effective handlers needed to be established. step is to see if dogs can translate the • in locating feral cats but detection of cat scent to actually tracking About 720 ha of Tutanning Nature whether they are the most down feral cats. The research has also Reserve was divided into 100m x 150m efficient tool to use in these allowed us to make some estimates quadrats and a single cat scat was situations needs to be further regarding the amount of time it might take randomly placed in each quadrat. explored and quantified. for a dog to detect feral cats in this type Two detection dog teams (each team 8 What has been your biggest Where do you see the future 5 minutes with challenge as a Board Director? for conservation? FAME Board One challenge is the extensive reading We must persevere hoping that the impact prior to a meeting, but always interesting. that we have fought for becomes stronger Director, It can also be a challenge recruiting new with more people joining us in the fight to board members who have the time. save the special Australian environment, Margaret while understanding its fragility, its complexity An early challenge was importing Rock and the unspoilt areas that must be Wallabies from the New Zealand Island Wilksch OAM valued. Replanting areas is valuable, but where they were due to be culled. I had been those small areas cannot replace the working with embryo transfer with my stud complex structure of the many varied For this issue of On the Brink, we were thrilled cattle and understood many of the health areas of the Australian native bush. to interview Board Director Margaret Wilksch problems involved in importing animals. OAM. As the Foundation celebrates 25 years What do you think are the biggest It was breaking new ground, which over the this year, we know members who have threats we will be facing? supported FAME since the Earth Sanctuaries years FAME has been prepared to do. days will enjoy reading Margaret’s interview. Climate change is a threat, and nature After quarantine, the Wallabies were has adapted before, but probably it has relocated at the Little River Sanctuary For those not familiar with the Earth never been forced to adapt quite so quickly. in the hills west of Melbourne Sanctuaries days, can you please However, our population growth, urban tell us what was it like transitioning Can you share your most memorable development with bigger houses, and vast over to a new organisation, FAME? moment over your time with FAME? commercial development with harsher, The move was not difficult. We felt it was bigger footprints continue to impact on Meetings held at Warrawong were always necessary to find a new name and agriculture which in turn puts pressure enjoyable watching the small animals that was the difficulty. We employed on native habitat. Tourism needs to be through the windows. I also enjoyed my time a professional contractor who helped carefully managed to reduce its impact on as acting CEO when we lost our newly- us develop the name FAME. our special native conservation areas. appointed person who left to go to Sydney. A lot has happened in conservation in Which native species – flora or fauna are Australia over the last 25 years. Can you you particularly worried about the future of? point out one or two of the most poignant changes and how these impacted FAME? I am very worried as I see weeds flourishing and losing our bio-diverse fauna. Our The Tasmanian Devil was the early big little birds are disappearing; too many big project. The Reptile Park was the most birds are in many areas, out of control. successful breeder of young Devils, so Likewise, small critters, which we rarely we worked with them to establish Devil see, are at risk as the fragile balance of our Ark at Barrington Tops. Our donation native diversity is impacted and the fragile helped the principals at the Reptile balance lost. The spread of urbanisation Park to get money from the NSW is impacting our natural environment with Government so it all went ahead. too many people, too many cats, and too Margaret Wilksch OAM many horses in the peri-urban areas.

catalyst for generating early momentum Australian Geographic Australian for this project. Other potential funders Conservationist of the Year 2018 initially declined to assist. Since that recipients, the Numbat Task Force Geographic's initial support, and in conjunction - Rob McLean and John Lawson. with the Australian Government, the Conservationist Threatened Species Commissioner and the WA Department of Biodiversity, of the Year Conservation and Attractions, FAME Congratulations to the Numbat Task has provided additional funds to the Force for being named Australian Numbat project. Our support was Geographic’s Conservationist of the Year urgently needed. The Numbats, the last for 2018. We are so pleased that the remaining population of Numbats in the efforts and commitment of the Numbat wild, were under dire threat of extinction. Task Force have been recognised It’s a small, but noteworthy, success through this prestigious award. in an environmental landscape still It was our Foundation’s recognition littered with threats of extinction. of the importance and value of this As we tell you frequently, our work conservation project that was the is likely never to be done.

25 YEARS OF SAVING OUR ENDANGERED FLORA AND FAUNA 9 Red Handfish Species Profile: • • • Photo credit: Rick Stuart-Smith, Reef Life Survey www.livescience.com/61534-rare-red-handfish-discovered.html www.australiangeographic.com.au/blogs/australian-endangered-species/2014/10/red-handfish-thymichthys-politus/ en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handfish

Weird looking and weird by the 1980s and 1990s. In January of this year, Live nature. The Red Handfish There is likely to be not Science journal reported (Thymichthys politus) is a more than 1,000 of these that a new population of small, rare fish endemic to fascinating fish left on the the Red Handfish had been Tasmania’s eastern coast. planet. The whole Handfish discovered. This gives great Rather than swim, this genus, within which there are hope that, although the fish has adapted pectoral 10 species, has a recovery odds are very much against fins that resemble hands plan currently in place. those that remain, there so it actually walks along could be other unknown There are many threats to the the ocean floor. The Red populations out there still survival of the Red Handfish. Handfish has been found battling these odds. It faces loss of habitat due in a diverse range of to pollution and rising water To find out more, please visit locations, from shallow temperatures, and it has a the Handfish Conservation rocky reefs to deeper shelf low reproductive rate. Project website: waters of 5-10 metres. A species of introduced www.handfish.org.au The Red Handfish was first starfish preys on the fish eggs, discovered in the 1800s and, and they are also susceptible in recent times, populations to poachers – because they have been documented in are such slow movers. 10 Past Projects: Where are they now?

In partnership with the South Australian A regeneration program which Department of Environment and Heritage commenced at Banrock Station now Spiny Daisy (DEH), FAME provided support for the sees the Spiny Daisy plant blooming recovery of the endangered Spiny across the Riverland. Although this 2008 – 2010 Daisy (Acanthocladium dockeri). is heartening for all the volunteers involved, the plant is yet to be removed Originally discovered during the Burke from the critically endangered list. and Wills expedition, this is one of the world’s rarest plants, with only five The volunteers have been ensuring Spiny populations known to exist. The Spiny Daisy plants have been placed in various Daisy was presumed extinct until 1999, locations to increase the chances of it when a small remnant population was surviving such events as bushfires. discovered in the Southern Flinders It really has been a fantastic success with Ranges of SA. FAME supported one volunteer describing her joy that this work to increase the area occupied ‘pretty, but not showy’ plant is surviving. by existing plants and establish the plant at several new locations.

Cane Toads (now Rhinella marina) (we probably can’t), we can buffer their continue to spread rapidly across impact by teaching vulnerable native Cane Toad the Kimberley, and more slowly down species not to eat toads when they arrive. the east coast of New South Wales. It’s a simple matter of ensuring that the 2015 – 2016 Research has confirmed that the alien first toad a predator meets is a small amphibians have a devastating effect one not a large one. Eating a small toad on native predators that try to eat them makes a predator sick and reluctant to – the toad’s powerful poisons are almost ever eat a toad again – whereas eating instantly fatal for native species like a big toad causes a fatal heart attack. , Goannas, and Bluetongue Skinks. Professor Rick Shine and his team are But the story is not all “doom and gloom”. now rolling out their taste-aversion Research has also identified new and training program across the Kimberley, effective ways to control local populations in collaboration with many local of Cane Toads by trapping tadpoles organisations. Overall, research has with a chemical produced by the toads shown us what’s going on with toads, themselves. The chemical is highly and what we can do about it. attractive “bait” for Cane Toad tadpoles Professor Rick Shine but not for other species. And, even if University of Sydney we can’t exterminate the toads entirely

over some of the risk our donors bear receive the capital gains and not bear Help FAME by in undertaking to give us specific your unrealised or realised losses. amounts of cash when they do not For every donation made under donating your know what their income will be?’ this scheme (normally twice annually), share returns Thus we developed this scheme you will receive an immediate whereby you undertake to donate receipt for tax-deduction purposes. Many of our donors hold a portfolio the annual returns from a specific You also keep your franking credits. of shares from which the returns number of shares in a company, A fully-franked dividend of $200, for vary from year to year, yet we ask and we take over your risk of what example, generates franking credits you usually to donate cash to us, those returns will be. If you are able, of about $85. A donation to FAME and sometimes you make these you also can undertake to donate the of $200 will yield a $60 reduction in commitments in advance when you unrealised or realised capital gains your marginal tax if you are on a 30% do not know how well your shares for a period, but here we are not marginal tax rate. Those savings in are going to perform. So, we at so generous and we agree only to tax are well worth having. FAME thought ‘why don’t we take

25 YEARS OF SAVING OUR ENDANGERED FLORA AND FAUNA 11 25 Years of Highlights

FAME projects since 1993

25 years ago, a foundation with a vision was established. From its humble beginnings to now, FAME continues to support on-ground conservation projects Mountain Pygmy Western Quoll and to save our precious endangered flora and fauna. Possum Brush-tailed Possum Improving genetic diversity Reintroduction During 2018 we have highlighted many of the projects of Mountain Pygmy Possums Introduction of extinct species we have been involved in throughout our 25 years; at Mt Buller back into Ikara Flinders Ranges here are a few more. Partners: Department of Sustainability and Environment Victoria National Park Partners: Department of Environment, Water and 2012 – 2013 Natural Resources, & Department of Parks and Wildlife 2013 – 2018

Cane Toad Optimising Felixer Project wild_ Aussie Ark FAME and the Australian The Optimisng Felixer offers the Build awareness through Building a robust population of Reptile Park are working potential for a highly targeted and visual imagery of Australia's three different species - Long together to create a large humane management tool that endangered flora and fauna nosed Bandicoot, Long nosed scale breeding program for also collect valuable monitoring 2017 – 2018 Potorroo and Eastern Bettong. the endangered Tasmanian information that should enhance 2017 – Present Devil on mainland Australia. feral predator control. Partners: Sydney University Partners: Ecological Horizons 2015 – 2016 2015 – 2018

Numbat/ Detector Kangaroo Island Bulburin Nut Tall Astelia Dog Project Dunnart Securing the survival of the Saving the Tall Astelia from last remaining Bulburin Nut extinction by funding important Researching if Detector Dogs Finding the elusive Kangaroo trees and planting new trees research to monitor the can identify feral cats to save Island Dunnart through to help avoid extinction. last remaining populations Numbats. surveying to gain understand and identify suitable sites Partners: Australian Federal as to the current distribution Partners: Macadamia Government, and Department of Conservation Trust for future propagating. and population of the species. Biodiversity, Conservation & Attractions Partners: Conservation Ecology Centre Partners: Land for Wildlife 2018 – Present 2017 – Present Kangaroo Island 2018 – Present

2018 – Present Cover: Bulburin Nut