Feral cats have been eradicated from Montebello Islands

23/8/99
Feral cats have been eradicated from the Montebello Islands, off the Pilbara coast.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said today the eradication was achieved as part of the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Montebello Renewal, an initiative under Western Shield that aims to bring back 30 species of native animals from the brink of extinction.
Feral cats were introduced to the Montebellos last century, possibly from a shipwreck or from pearling luggers.
Along with introduced black rats, they were responsible for the local extinction of two species of native mammal - the Spectacled Hare-wallaby and Golden Bandicoot - and two species of native birds - the Black-and-White Fairy-Wren and Spinifexbird.
With help from local oil company Apache Energy, CALM scientists distributed more than 1,000 specially-designed feral cat baits in early June. It was estimated there might have been 20 feral cats on the 1,022ha Hermite Island before baiting.
After baiting was completed, CALM staff and volunteers set traps to catch the remaining animals. There proved to be only four cats alive after baiting and the last of these, which proved particularly difficult to trap, was captured on July 30.
The Montebello Islands were the site for British atomic weapon tests in the 1950s. They had been a Commonwealth prohibited area until returned to Western Australian control in 1992 and declared a Conservation Park.
CALM began Montebello Renewal in 1996 to rid the islands of feral animals and reintroduce native species.
Mrs Edwardes said that the eradication was a major achievement and showed that CALM was on track with its development of specially designed baits to control feral cats.
She said the continuing commitment of Apache Energy for Montebello Renewal was particularly appreciated. Support was also received from the Australian Customs Service, Toll Energy Trucking, West Australian Petroleum (WAPET) and Faraday Pearls.
Media contacts: Ministerial Kaye Hopkins 9421 7777
CALM Dr Andrew Burbidge 9405 5128