Launch of appeal to help endangered species

A $5 million appeal to help endangered species was launched on the site of the proposed Endangered Species Centre of Western Australia at Byford today.

Environment Minister Bob Pearce said funds raised by the appeal would go towards developing the Byford centre as well as further developing Perth Zoo.

At the launch, Mr Pearce handed over a cheque for $80,000 - a grant from the Gordon Reid Foundation - which will go towards the centre's establishment costs and the start of a fox-proof fence to be built around a wildlife sanctuary on the property.

Perth Zoo's current captive breeding programs, carried out in conjunction with CALM and UWA, will be consolidated and extended at the centre.

Mr Pearce said there had already been some success in breeding one of Australia's most endangered animal, the Western Swamp Tortoise.

"Only three years ago, there were only thirty tortoises left. Last year this had increased to sixty and now a further ten have been hatched at the zoo, with four more hatched in the wild, joining the captive colony."

Mr Pearce said the chuditch, or Western Native Cat, was also doing well, with 17 born in captivity this year. A major release back to the wild was planned later this year.

"Wild populations of the numbat, the State's fauna emblem, are starting to recover due to the fox-control programs undertaken by CALM. However, no young have been born in captivity this year," Mr Pearce said.

"Resources from this appeal will assist in the development of a captive numbat population, to ensure the survival of this rare species.

There were 88 Western Australian species currently listed as endangered. Some species, which were currently taken for granted, such as the Carnaby's Cockatoo (white-tailed black) could suddenly vanish.

CSIRO research indicated that this species might not be breeding and that groups commonly seen in Perth might be ageing birds.

The Byford Endangered Species Centre could provide sheltered breeding opportunities for this species, as well as many others.

Development of the centre would open up more of the Perth Zoo to visitors as service activities are moved to Byford.

Funds from the appeal would advance plans to protect the orang utan and the Asian elephant.

The appeal would be administered by the newly formed Perth Zoo Society, established specifically to raise funds to support the zoo's conservation efforts.