Chuditch given new chance in Shark Bay

Nine wild chuditch were released into Francois Peron National Park in Shark Bay last night to establish a new population of the species that once inhabited the area.

As part of the Department of Environment and Conservation's (DEC) Project Eden, scientists reintroduced the animals from Julimar Conservation Park, west of Toodyay, and the adjacent Bindoon Army Training area.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii) were widespread and abundant across all mainland States and the Northern Territory at the time of European settlement, but by the 1970s, they were restricted to the south-west corner of Western Australia.

"Many factors have contributed to the decline of the chuditch across Australia, including predation by cats and foxes; habitat loss and degradation; altered fire regimes; and competition for food and resources," Mr Marmion said.

"Since the early 1990s, DEC and its predecessor, the Department of Conservation and Land Management, have been working to improve the conservation status of the chuditch through increasing existing populations in the South-West and translocations to the animal's former range.

"In 1992, a trial translocation of captive-bred chuditch was undertaken to fox-baited woodland at Julimar, which resulted in the chuditch population establishing and expanding into neighbouring areas, including the army training area.

"Since then several translocations have taken place, including to Kalbarri National Park and Lake Magenta Nature Reserve, south of Newdegate."

The translocation to Francois Peron National Park is considered to be a reintroduction, as chuditch were known to exist in the Shark Bay area.

The last known specimen was recorded in 1858, and chuditch bones dating from the past 100 years were found in 2003.

"This translocation to Francois Peron National Park is another step towards the chuditch's recovery and improving their conservation status," the Minister said.

"As the chuditch is a native top-order predator, its abundance is linked to the amount of prey and health of the ecosystem, so the results of this reintroduction will help indicate the extent of ecosystem recovery within the park."

As part of DEC's Western Shield program, extensive fox and cat control has been under way in the park since 1995, involving aerial and ground baiting and trapping.

The reintroduced animals are micro-chipped and fitted with radio collars to enable monitoring.  If the translocated population thrives, DEC plans to introduce up to 40 more chuditch in the next three years.

Chuditch are a carnivorous marsupial and can be identified by their soft brown fur with large white spots, pointed muzzle, large dark eyes and big rounded ears. They are about the same size as domestic cats.

Minister's office - 9220 5000

A chuditch. Photo by: Babs and Bert Wells.

DEC technical officer Kelly Rayner and DEC principal technical officer Brent Johnson radio collaring a chuditch before last night's release. Photo by: Anna Nowicki

DEC principal technical officer Brent Johnson and DEC ecologist Linda Reinhold releasing a chuditch at Shark Bay. Photo by: Anna Nowicki