Woylie population flourishes in sanctuary

• Woylie numbers in Perup Sanctuary grow by almost 400 per cent

• Research continues to investigate declines in the Upper Warren

• Region supports biggest woylie population in WA

A population of critically endangered woylies in a South-West sanctuary has grown by almost 400 per cent in a sign the species is responding well to recovery efforts.  

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said the State Government's Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) released 41 woylies into the 420ha predator-free Perup Sanctuary, near Manjimup, in December 2010.

"In the two years since being introduced, the population has flourished.  Trapping last November saw 161 individuals caught, with all traps full every night and unavailable to catch other animals, so there were a lot more animals competing for the traps," Mr Marmion said.

"In addition, a woylie that had twin pouch young in April 2012 had another set of twin pouch young in the November trapping.  There are only three records of twin pouch young in the Upper Warren since the 1970s from more than 9,000 records of female woylies."

The Minister said DEC was on track to meet its goal of the sanctuary supporting at least 400 woylies within the next five to 10 years, which would compensate for any rapid and continuing woylie declines in the wild.

Mr Marmion said a lot of hard work was being done to determine the reason for a 90 per cent decline in the wild population during the last decade.

"DEC is working to control feral cat and fox populations across key areas of the State through its Western Shield fauna conservation program.  Researchers are also looking at the role disease may be playing in the decline of woylies," he said.

"The Perup Sanctuary population will ultimately provide a valuable source of animals for re-establishment of woylies in areas outside the sanctuary."

Collaborators in the research program include DEC; Murdoch University; Perth Zoo; Australian Wildlife Conservancy; South Australian Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Warren Catchments Council; Federal Government's Caring for our Country program; and The University of Western Australia.

          Fact File

• Woylies were once widespread across southern Australia

• Reduced to three small areas in WA's South-West by 1970s

• Since 2008, Liberal National Government contributed more than $10.6million to protect and rehabilitate endangered species

• Includes Western Swamp Tortoise, Western Ground Parrot and WA's three species of black cockatoos 

Minister's office - 6552 6800

DEC employee Brian Whittred releases a woylie into the Perup enclosure.

 Photo courtesy: Department of Environment and Conservation.