Endangered Shark Bay mouse to be returned to mainland

8/5/94

The endangered Shark Bay mouse is to be returned to the Australian mainland next month for the first time in 100 years.

Environment Minister Kevin Minson said today the last time the species was recorded on the Australian mainland was at Alice Springs in 1895.

The Minister said several of the mice would be released at Heirisson Prong at Shark Bay where fox and cat control measures had been ongoing for some time.

"The work will be undertaken by the Department of Conservation and Land Management, CSIRO and the Useless Loop community," Mr Minson said.

"Shark Bay mice released by CALM researchers on Doole Island near Exmouth last year have bred and spread over the entire 150-hectare island.

"The released animals were radio-collared and intensively monitored by CALM scientists.

"Although some of the older and younger animals died over the hot summer months, all animals caught on a monitoring trip last month were in good condition and were offspring from the founding population."

Mr Minson said it was expected the population would increase again after the breeding season in June.

The Minister said until the Doole Island release, the Shark Bay mouse was found only on Bernier Island off Carnarvon and nowhere else.

It was once found from Dunsborough to the North West Cape and inland to Alice Springs.

"The animal is very attractive, with dark brown fur and a pale underside and a small tuft of fur on the end of its tail," Mr Minson said.

"It is nocturnal, tunnels under spinifex and eats flowers, seeds and sometimes insects."

Mr Minson said because there were only two populations, the species could easily become extinct from fire, disease or the accidental re-introduction of feral animals to the islands.

The Minister said the release was an important part of a recovery plan for the mouse, overseen by CALM, the Australian Nature Conservation Agency, CSIRO and Useless Loop Community Biosphere Project Group.

Eventually the mouse could be re-introduced to Peron Peninsula at Shark Bay, if programs to control introduced predators were successful.

Media contact: Diana Callander 222 9595 or 321 2222