State Budget 2012-13: Building the State - Boost for critically endangered species

Efforts to save two of Western Australia's most threatened species have been boosted with more than $1million allocated to breeding and recovery programs.

  • $1.3m to protect Western Swamp Tortoise and Western Ground Parrot
  • Money will support Perth Zoo breeding program and feral predator control

Efforts to save two of Western Australia's most threatened species have been boosted with more than $1million allocated to breeding and recovery programs.


Environment Minister Bill Marmion today announced $1.06million had been allocated over four years to upgrade the Western Swamp Tortoise breeding facilities at Perth Zoo. 


"Perth Zoo manages the breeding program for Western Swamp Tortoise, providing tortoises for release into protected areas as part of a species recovery program run by the Department of Environment and Conservation," Mr Marmion said.


"This capital works funding will enable the zoo to continue to breed and release tortoises into the wild each year and support the continued maintenance of an insurance population of about 150-200 Western Swamp Tortoises at the zoo."


Weighing just four to six grams when they hatch, the young tortoises spend two to three years at the zoo until they reach the required release weight of 100 grams. The release weight is aimed at reducing the risk of predation in the wild.


The Minister also announced $250,000 would go towards the Department of Environment and Conservation's Western Ground Parrot recovery project.


"The recovery program will boost current efforts involving fox and feral cat control, fire management, captive management and surveying wild populations," he said.


There are fewer than 110 Western Ground parrots in the wild and they are susceptible to predation by foxes and feral cats.


     Fact File

  • Perth Zoo's breed-for-release program for Western Swamp Tortoise has received national recognition for its contribution to in-situ conservation
  • Since 1994, more than 570 Western Swamp tortoises bred at Perth Zoo have been released into protected habitat
  • The Western Ground Parrot is only found on the south coast in Fitzgerald River & Cape Arid national parks
  • DEC has a captive breeding program under way on the south coast

Minister's office - 6552 6800