Numbats translocated to Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve

30/11/95

Ten of Western Australia's faunal emblem - the numbat - were today given a new home at a nature reserve near Hyden.

The numbats were translocated from the Dyrandra Woodland to Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve by staff from the Department of Conservation and Land Management as part of the State Government's numbat recovery plan.

The recovery plan is part-funded by the State Government and the Australian Nature Conservation Agency.

Environment Minister Peter Foss said numbats were last recorded at Dragon Rocks in the early 1970s.

"An increase in the number of foxes in WA's South West is believed to have caused the extinction of remnant numbat populations, as well as other medium-sized mammal species around this time," he said.

"However, a fox control program is now operating at Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve and all animals will be fitted with radio collars to allow detailed monitoring by CALM during the first few years after their release."

The numbat recovery plan aims to establish at least nine populations of the distinctive marsupial within its 10-year term.  Up to 20 animals will be taken to each site three times a year.

Mr Foss said numbats had already been successfully reintroduced by CALM to Boyagin and Tutanning Nature Reserves.  Both reserves had a fox control regime in place.

"The animals taken to Dragon Rocks came from the wild population at Dryandra Woodland, which currently stands at between 400 and 500 numbats," the Minister said.

"They were transferred as quickly as possible and released directly into logs with suitable hollows at the new site."

Shifting the animals in November and December mimics the natural dispersal of young numbats and is the only time of the year when female numbats do not have dependant offspring.

Both adults and juveniles are expected to establish new home ranges within days of release.

Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve is 32,218 ha and is estimated to be able to support about 650 numbats.

The area is well within the former range of the marsupial and its mallee and scrub vegetation, with low open forest areas, should provide good cover.

Fox baiting, using dried meat baits treated with 1080, has been conducted since January this year.

Media contact:  Peter Harris (09) 321 2222/(09) 222 9595 or for more specific information about numbats, Dr Tony Friend, CALM Woodvale, (09) 405 5100