Minister helps endangered native species return to Kalbarri National Park

3/8/00
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes today helped in the return of two endangered native mammals to their former range in the State's Mid-West region.
Woylies and chuditch have been released in the Kalbarri National Park as part of the Department of Conservation and Land Management's Western Shield project that aims to bring more than 30 native species back from the brink of extinction.
Mrs Edwardes said woylies once occurred throughout much of the State including the Pilbara and from Shark Bay to the South Coast.
By 1990 only three natural populations were on record. These were at Dryandra Woodland near Narrogin, Tutanning Nature Reserve near Pingelly and Perup Nature Reserve in State forest east of Manjimup.
In 1996, following fox control by CALM, the woylie's status was changed to 'conservation dependent' under World Conservation Union (IUCN) guidelines. This was the first time a mammal species had been taken off the national threatened species list in Australia as a result of scientific research and conservation management.
Mrs Edwardes said woylies were now widespread following strategic reintroductions by CALM in areas such as Francois Peron National Park in the World Heritage Listed Shark Bay area, in the Valley of the Giants tingle forest north of Nornalup on the South Coast, and in the Hills Forest around Mundaring. Populations also had been reintroduced into areas of South Australia and New South Wales.
"Chuditch, now listed as a threatened species, also used to be widespread across most of mainland Australia but by the 1970s were restricted to the South-West forests and southern wheatbelt in WA," the Minister said.
"Since Western Shield began, wild populations have been re-established in several areas including Julimar Conservation Park between Toodyay and Bindoon and at Lake Magenta Nature Reserve north of Jerramungup.
"Western Shield has also led to two other species being de-listed as threatened fauna in WA - the quenda or southern brown bandicoot, and the tammar wallaby.
"The program has attracted international and national acclaim and has been awarded a national Banksia award for conservation excellence. Western Shield is considered to be the single biggest wildlife conservation initiative undertaken in Australia."
Mrs Edwardes said fox baiting in Western Australia was based on one of the State's great 'natural advantages'.
"The toxin used in the baits, 1080, occurs naturally in the 'poison peas' - Gastrolobium species," she said.
"Because Western Australia's native animals have evolved alongside these plants - which are deadly to domestic pets and livestock - they have developed high tolerances to the toxicity."
Mrs Edwardes said Kalbarri National Park had been baited for foxes for the past four years. The park, covering 183,000ha, contained a range of vegetation and habitats suitable for several species planned to be reintroduced.
"These include tammar wallabies, mala (rufous hare-wallaby) and western barred bandicoots," the Minister said.
Woylies are continuous breeders under suitable conditions. Females first breed at six months of age and males at between nine and 12 months.
"Because they are prolific breeders, they are a very good 'indicator species'," Mrs Edwardes said.
"If the woylie population is thriving, then it is a good indication that not only is fox control working, but also the natural ecosystems that sustain their environment are intact and healthy.
"Similarly, because chuditch are carnivorous and at the top of the food chain, they also are good indicators of the health of the local environment."
The translocated woylies came from Dryandra Woodland, where the population was estimated to have increased four-fold just two years after fox baiting began in the 1980s.
The chuditch Mrs Edwardes released today came from Perth Zoo's highly successful captive breeding program. The source animals for this program came mainly from animals captured in the Batalling forest block east of Collie.
Media contacts:
Ministerial: Steve Manchee on 421 7777
CALM: Peter Orell on 9334 0454

Attachment: Chuditch and woylie distribution maps

Distribution Maps
Chuditch

Black = recent range
Dark and light Grey = former range
WOYLIE