1 Ecological and cultural aspects of the reintroduction of mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus) to Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park Chapter 1. Introduction 1.1 Mala Mala or the rufous hare-wallaby Lagorchestes hirsutus (literally „hairy dancing-hare‟, Gould 1844) was first described from specimens collected from the Western Australian wheat belt (Lundie-Jenkins 1995). The species is part of the Superfamily Macropodoidea (members of this Superfamily are referred to as „macropods‟ throughout the thesis), and belongs to the Family Macropodidae and Subfamily Macropodinae (Van Dyck and Strahan 2008). Three species of Lagorchestes were once extant on mainland Australia: L. asomatus, now extinct; L. conspicillatus, extinct in the southern part of its former range but still found across northern Australia; and L. hirsutus (Van Dyck and Strahan 2008). Four subspecies of L. hirsutus are currently recognised; L. hirsutus hirsutus (mainland south-western Australia), L. hirsutus subsp. (unnamed central mainland species), L. hirsutus bernieri (Bernier Island, Western Australia) and L. hirsutus dorreae (Dorre Island, Western Australia; Johnson and Burbidge 2008). However, a study of mala genetics has questioned this taxonomy, and may lead to future reclassification of the species (Johnson and Burbidge 2008). This thesis is concerned with the unnamed central mainland species, hitherto referred to as „mala‟. Mala are a small wallaby standing around 300mm in height (Lundie-Jenkins 1995; Figure 1.1). Slight sexual dimorphism is present in the taxon, with females (900-1750 grams) being marginally larger than males (800-1600 grams; Johnson and Burbidge 2008:31). The species has thick, rufous fur, with the chest and abdomen being a paler, sandy buff in colour (Lundie-Jenkins 1995, pers. obs.). Hair length increases towards the lower back, giving the species a shaggy appearance (Lundie-Jenkins 1995, Figure 1.1). 2 In the central part of its former range, mala occurred in spinifex (Triodia sp.) dominated sandplain and dunefield habitat (Bolton and Latz 1978, Johnson and Burbidge 2008). The species is nocturnal, spending the daylight hours sheltering in a nest which Figure 1.1 Mala Lagorchestes hirsutus. This animal is one of the 24 founders of the Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park population, photographed early on the morning of its release may take a variety of forms (Lundie-Jenkins 1993, Johnson and Burbidge 2008). At its most basic, the nest comprises a shallow scrape made beneath a spinifex clump, shrub or dead plant material (pers. obs., Johnson et al. 1996). However, mala may also excavate a short burrow (again under vegetative shelter), with a narrow entrance terminating in a broader chamber (pers obs, Johnson 1988, Figures 1.2 and 1.3). At Uluru, these 3 Figure 1.2 Entrance to mala nest amongst spinifex, UKTNP Figure 1.3 The same nest as Figure 1.2, but with spinifex lifted showing narrow entrance and burrow beyond 4 burrows are up to approximately 40cm in length (pers. obs.). At dusk, mala emerge from their nests and travel to feeding areas (Lundie-Jenkins et al. 1993). These locations are generally open habitat adjacent to the mature spinifex communities in which they shelter, such as areas regenerating from fire or saline flats (Johnson and Burbidge 2008, Lundie- Jenkins et al. 1993). Mala browse a broad range of plants, of which grasses make up the bulk of the diet (Lundie-Jenkins et al. 1993). Mala do not require the presence of surface water to survive (Johnson 1988). When moving slowly, such as during browsing behaviour, mala move pentapedally using all four limbs and the tail in a fashion similar to larger macropods (Lundie-Jenkins 1993, pers. obs., Figure 1.4). Faster movement is bipedal, with the tail held aloft (Lundie- Jenkins 1993, pers. obs., Figure 1.4). Bipedal tracks Pentapedal tracks Figure 1.4 Pentapedal and bipedal mala tracks at UKTNP. A clear tail drag is visible when mala move slowly, however this is absent when the species moves more rapidly If startled from their nests during the day, mala flee at high speed in zig-zag fashion, and often emit a short, high-pitched squeak (pers. obs., Johnson 1988). In captivity, mala 5 breed continuously throughout the year, and similarly no seasonality of breeding had been identified in a study of free-ranging animals (Lundie-Jenkins 1995). Males reach sexual maturity at around 14 months, and females between 5 and 18 months (Lundie- Jenkins 1995). Young remain in the pouch for about 124 days (Johnson and Burbidge 2008), and mala have been known to live as long as 13 years in captivity (Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment, The Arts and Sport unpublished data). Mala were once found across a vast area of arid and semi-arid mainland Australia (Johnson and Burbidge 2008, Figure 1.5). However, the species began to decline in the Figure 1.5 Former mainland distribution of mala (after Johnson and Burbidge 2008:318) middle of last century, and is believed to have become extinct in the southern part of central Australia in the 1950s (Johnson and Burbidge 2008, Langford 2000). It has been proposed that the dramatic decline of mala was driven by habitat alteration (caused by 6 introduced herbivores and frequent, extensive bushfires) and/or direct predation by introduced carnivores (Bolton and Latz 1978, Burbidge and Pearson 1989, Johnson 1988, Richards 2005, Richards et al. 2008). Surprisingly, mala did not become extinct on mainland Australia entirely, and two small populations of the species were discovered in 1959 near Sangsters Bore in the Tanami Desert (approximately 450km north-west of Alice Springs; Langford 1999a). These populations persisted until the late 1980s / early 1990s, when fire extirpated one colony, and the other succumbed to fox predation (Langford 2000). However, the establishment of a captive breeding colony prior to the extinction of the last wild mala population permitted the gradual recovery of the species (Gibson et al. 1994). This conservation work has been documented in detail in a series of scientific and general interest publications (Friend et al. 2002, Gibson et al. 1994, Hardman and Moro 2006a, Hardman and Moro 2006b, Johnson et al. 1996, Johnson 1988, Langford 2000, Langford 1999a, Langford 1999b, Langford 1993a, Langford 1993b, Langford and Burbidge 2001, Lundie-Jenkins 1998, Lundie-Jenkins 1996, Lundie-Jenkins 1995, Richards 2005, Figure 1.6). 7 1980 Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory (CCNT) staff removed animals from the last wild mala populations in the Tanami Desert to commence a captive breeding program at the Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI) in Alice Springs. 1984-1985 Mala bred at AZRI were released into the wild at Lake Surprise in the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory. Post-release monitoring failed to locate any of the released animals. 1986-1989 CCNT and Willowra Aboriginal Community members built a one square kilometre enclosure at Lander River to protect reintroduced mala from predators. Mala bred at AZRI were released into the enclosure to create a breeding population. In 1988, a colony of mala was established at Western Plains Zoo (NSW) in order to support the captive breeding of the species. The program was discontinued in 2001. 1990-1992 Mala bred/held at the Lander River enclosure were released into the surrounding environment. Although individuals survived outside the enclosure for over a year, the reintroduction was ultimately unsuccessful. 1993 A national Mala Recovery Team was established to coordinate conservation action for the species. 1995 The Mala Recovery Plan was completed. 1998 In order to establish additional breeding colonies, 20 mala were translocated from the Lander River enclosure to the Dryandra breeding compound in WA. 1999 30 mala were translocated from the Lander River enclosure to Trimouille Island WA, where a population has successfully established. A workshop on faunal reintroductions was held at UKTNP, and Anangu voiced a desire to see a suite of species, including mala, returned to the Park. Revised Mala Recovery Plan for the period 1999-2004 was completed. 1992-1995 A colony of mala was established at Monarto Zoological Park (SA) in order to support the captive breeding of the species. The program was discontinued in 2004. 2000 The remote nature of the Lander River enclosure made fence maintenance and population monitoring logistically difficult. The Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory (PWCNT, formerly CCNT) decided to decommission the Lander River site and build a new predator-proof enclosure at Watarrka National Park. Mala from Lander River were released into this 120 hectare enclosure in 2000. 2001 Protected from introduced predators by a fence across the isthmus, 16 captive bred mala bred on- site (animals originally sourced from Lander River enclosure) were released onto Francois Peron Peninsula. The fence ultimately proved ineffective and the reintroduction failed due to cat predation. Captive bred mala were released by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy into a predator-proof enclosure at Scotia Sanctuary in western NSW. The translocation has been deemed a short-term success. 2003 After meetings with agencies involved in mala recovery, Anangu and UKTNP decided that mala would be the priority species for reintroduction to Uluru. 2004 UKTNP staff and Mutitjulu Community members commence construction of a predator-proof enclosure at Uluru. 2005 Mala from Watarrka National Park were translocated to the newly completed 170 hectare enclosure at UKTNP. Figure 1.6 Overview of mala recovery action 1980-2005 8 1.2 Uluru - Kata Tjuta National Park Uluru – Kata Tjuta National Park (UKTNP, also referred to as „Uluru‟ throughout this thesis) is an internationally recognized, World Heritage Area located 320 km south-west of Alice Springs (Figure 1.5). The Park, which covers 1325 km2 within the historic range of mala, receives approximately 300,000 visitors annually from Australia and around the world (UKTNP unpublished data).