Project Eden making marked progress in reducing predators

22/2/97

The bold conservation plan, Project Eden, has made significant progress in turning Peron Peninsula, in the Shark Bay World Heritage area, into a haven for endangered native animals.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said in its two-and-a-half years of operation, the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) project had been very successful in controlling the threat of introduced predators from the 1,050sqkm peninsula.

"Through the use of aerial baiting and innovative trapping techniques, numbers of introduced predators, such as the European fox and feral cat, have been significantly reduced," Mrs Edwardes said.

"In fact, foxes have almost been eliminated on the peninsula with a 98 per cent reduction in numbers. For the first time in more than 50 years it is almost fox-free.

"This fantastic result was beyond expectations, particularly as it was achieved so early in the project."

The Minister said cat numbers were reduced by an incredible 90 per cent and it was hoped that the goal of two cats per 100 sq km would be reached by winter this year.

"Along with goat and rabbit control, and the erection of the 3.4km electric fence across the isthmus of the peninsula, Peron is close to becoming almost feral predator-free," she said.

"This has paved the way for Project Eden to enter its second phase of operations - habitat recovery, endangered native animal breeding programs and reintroduction of native species."

The Minister said one could already see the benefits of the removal of ferals had on flora and fauna, with native vegetation blossoming and fauna becoming more abundant.

"Wildlife monitoring has shown an increase in the number of small animals on the peninsula, such as the spinifex hopping mouse and numerous small reptile species," she said.

"Animal tracks also reveal the growing number and diversity of larger animals such as the emu, euro, echidna and goanna."

Mrs Edwardes said re-establishment of threatened native animals on the peninsula would begin with malleefowls and the woylies as the first two species to be reintroduced this winter.

"A captive breeding station has been established at Peron, with a malleefowl breeding program already under way," she said.

"Malleefowl eggs were transported to Peron for incubation. They have a good hatching rate and it's expected that the majority of these would survive infancy. They will be cared for until half-grown and strong enough to survive independently in the wild.

"As woylies are now thriving in WA's South-West due to fox control and conservation management, they will be captured and translocated directly to the peninsula for reintroduction."

The Minister said other species chosen for reintroduction, numbers of which were low in the wild, would also be bred in captivity. These included the rufous hare-wallaby and the bilby, of which CALM had already obtained a breeding pair.

"CALM Denham staff have already began to build breeding compounds for bilbies and preparations are being made to breed the first of the endangered species from nearby offshore islands," she said.

"All reintroductions will be the subject of a comprehensive post-release monitoring program to ensure the animals are surviving well."

Media contact: Diana Russell Coote 421 7777