Release of bandicoots proves worth of Western Shield program: Minister

5/9/00
Western Barred Bandicoots - extinct in the wild on the Australian mainland until recently - will be reintroduced to Dryandra Woodland north-west of Narrogin today.
Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said it would be the first time in more than 90 years that the marsupial will exist naturally in the South-West.
The Western Barred Bandicoot survives naturally on Bernier and Dorre Islands in the world heritage listed Shark Bay area. The last mainland sighting of the species was at Rawlinna on the Nullarbor in 1929.
Following the successful breeding program run by the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) and Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre using Western Barred Bandicoots from two island populations, the animals will be released both in the wild and in a temporary enclosure.
Mrs Edwardes said the relocation was part of CALM's Return to Dryandra project under the umbrella of its Western Shield program.
Western Shield is a fox baiting program which plans to reintroduce 30 native animal species to areas where they have become locally extinct.
Mrs Edwardes said the mainland re-establishment of Western Barred Bandicoots was a tribute to the success of Western Shield and follows the reintroduction of bilbies at Dryandra in April.
Dryandra Woodland is within the former range of the Western Barred Bandicoot and is considered an ideal habitat for the species.
The woodland has suffered a lower loss of vertebrate fauna than other areas in the south-west of WA, a fact which could be attributed to the abundance of various species of Gastrolobium or poison peas which naturally contain the poison 1080.
"Because native animals have evolved with poison peas, they have a high level of tolerance to 1080 but tiny amounts are lethal to introduced animals such as foxes and feral cats," Mrs Edwardes said.
The size of Dryandra, its diverse habitat, wide fauna spectrum and the effectiveness of ongoing fox control make it an ideal fauna reconstruction site. Other marsupials including the Rufous Hare-Wallaby or Mala, the Burrowing Bettong or Boodie and the Mernine or Banded Hare-Wallaby may also be released as part of Return to Dryandra.
Dryandra Woodland is an archipelago of mainly wandoo, powderbark wandoo and brown mallet forest blocks extending over almost 24,000ha west of Narrogin on the western edge of the Wheatbelt.
Mrs Edwardes said that in the past 70 years foxes had driven bandicoots and other small native wildlife including bilbies and burrowing bettongs almost to the point of extinction.
"The captive breeding program is lifting the numbers to the point where species can be reintroduced into safe habitats," she said.
Media contacts:
MINISTER: Steve Manchee on 9421 7777
CALM: Dr Tony Friend on 9842 4523