Endangered mala to be released on predator-freeTrimouille Island

16/6/98

Thirty endangered mala will be flown this week from the Tanami Desert in the Northern Territory to feral predator-free Trimouille Island off the coast of Western Australia, where they will be released into the wild.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the mala translocation to Trimouille Island - located in the Montebellos Islands group - followed the release of 20 mala in the Dryandra Woodland during March.

"The introduction of mala to the Montebellos Islands is a significant step forward in re-establishing the critically endangered mammals in their former range," Mrs Edwardes said.

"The mala, commonly called Rufous hare-wallaby, is currently extinct in the wild on the mainland and exists only in captivity in small numbers.

"It was once common and widespread throughout most of the arid and semi-arid parts of Australia but is now restricted to the predator-free Bernier and Dorrie islands off the coast of WA in the Shark Bay region, and the Tanami Desert."

The Minister said recovery plans for the mala were part of the Department of Conservation and Land Management's (CALM) wildlife conservation initiative Western Shield.

"Through Western Shield, CALM is bringing back native animals from the brink of extinction by controlling introduced predators, such as the European fox and feral cat," she said.

Mala will also be bred in captivity in purpose built breeding enclosures at Peron Peninsula in the Shark Bay area and Dryandra in the Wheatbelt region.

Once the population is at a sustainable high level, CALM aims to reintroduce the mala back into the wild on the mainland where fox and cat control has been achieved.

"To date CALM has reintroduced woylies, numbats, ring-tailed possums, noisy scrub birds and chuditch back into feral predator controlled areas, where they once roamed before the threat of foxes," the Minister said.

"Post monitoring of these releases has shown excellent results with population numbers increasing.

"Fox control and reintroductions through successful conservation management has led to the removal of three species, the quenda, tammar wallaby and woylie from the State's Threatened Species List.

"It is hoped that the introduction of the mala to the Montebellos will be a positive step forward for the species and its conservation status be improved."

Mrs Edwardes said the 30 mala to be transported would come from Mala Paddock, a captive predator proof area of the Tanami Desert, with the assistance of the Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory (PWCNT).

PWCNT, who have given CALM the animals, have generously agreed to help transport the animals from the desert.

A total of 20 female and 10 male mala will be captured over several nights and placed in temporary vegetated holding pens until they are transported. They will be driven from the desert in 4 wheel drive vehicles to Willowra where they will be flown in a fixed wing aircraft to Karratha. They will then be transferred to a helicopter, sponsored by Apache Energy, and flown to Trimouille Island for release the same day. Each animal will be fitted with radio collars and ear tags for post release monitoring.

Media contact: Nicole Trigwell (08) 9421 7707

CALM - Dr Syd Shea (08) 9442 0325