The men made specially designed transport boxes to help relocate 100 brush-tailed mulgara which had been caught at Mutawa Kurrara-Kurrara National Park near Wiluna in the Goldfields.
The small carnivorous marsupial had become locally extinct on Dirk Hartog Island, likely because of historic pastoral activity and introduced predators.
The prison’s Cabinet Shop Instructor Nathan Gligorevic supervised as prisoners made 130 containers from plywood and wire mesh.
“It gave the prisoners a chance to give back to the community by contributing to an important conservation project.”
“It helped them improve their maths, communication and ability to follow a design plan, all skills which could find them jobs after they leave prison,” said Mr Gligorevic.
The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) thanked the Albany Prison team for their work supporting the project.
“Their contribution was key to the success of the relocation operation,” said DBCA’s Senior Technical Officer Sean Garretson.
“We knew we could rely on them for robust, safe and secure boxes, as we had to transport the animals by land and air, over nearly 900 km.”
Each of the boxes was filled with nesting material and enough food to last the long journey to the island where the brush-tailed mulgara were released.
The Wiluna Martu rangers, under the Tarlka Matuwa Piarku Aboriginal Corporation, helped with the translocation, and were welcomed to the island by Malgana Traditional Owners.
The transport boxes were left in place near vegetative cover, allowing the animals to use them for as long as required.
The DBCA hopes their population will grow to some 3,000 individuals on the island, where they will play a key role in restoring a healthy ecosystem. Scientists will monitor closely the growth in the population over subsequent years.
Conservation efforts by Albany prisoners have previously seen success with 120 custom-designed boxes assisting the return of greater stick-nest rats to Dirk Hartog Island National Park in 2021 and 2022.
For more information about the project visit DIRK HARTOG ISLAND NATIONAL PARK: RETURN TO 1616.
