Endangered dibblers trapped at Fitzgerald River National Park

24/11/95

Department of Conservation and Land Management scientists have trapped 11 endangered dibblers at the Fitzgerald River National Park, near Albany and Esperance.

The dibbler, a small carnivorous marsupial, has rarely been captured on the mainland in such numbers.

Environment Minister Peter Foss today said that CALM scientists had feared the species might be close to extinction on the mainland because few dibblers had been trapped in areas where they were previously known.

"It is believed that broad-scale fox baiting carried out by CALM in the area where these dibblers were trapped could be a factor in their survival," Mr Foss said.

Dibblers were recorded in the Moore River area and near King George Sound in the early days of European settlement and several were collected up until 1884.

It took 83 years before the 'presumed extinct' dibbler was rediscovered at Cheyne Beach near Albany.

Dibblers had since been found in the Ravensthorpe district, the Fitzgerald River National Park, Torndirrup National Park, west of Albany and on two islands offshore from Jurien, north of Perth.

"This is a very exciting discovery and will lead to further efforts by biologists to learn more about the status and distribution of this endangered species," Mr Foss said.

The trapped animals were radio-collared and released.

A research project to examine the ecology of the dibbler is being conducted by CALM consultant Natasha Baczocha and technical officer Brent Johnson, with the assistance of local CALM staff and conservation volunteers.

Funding and support for the project will be provided by the Australian Nature Conservation Agency.

The project's goals are to estimate population numbers and habitat preferences on the mainland and identify current threats to the species, such as unsuitable fire regimes, clearing and predation by cats, foxes and dogs.

Media contact: Peter Harris 321 2222 or 222 9595 or for further technical information on dibblers, Dr Gordon Friend, CALM Woodvale, (09) 405 5121