Quenda & tammar wallaby to be de-listed from State Threatened Fauna List

19/4/98

Western Australia has made another significant breakthrough in bringing native animals back from the brink of extinction.

The quenda, or southern brown bandicoot, and the tammar wallaby are to be de-listed from the State Threatened Fauna List as a result of their recent recovery and ongoing management under the Western Shield program.

Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes said the removal followed a review by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee which reviews the State's lists of threatened fauna and flora using criteria established by the IUCN (World Conservation Union).

"The tammar and quenda are the second and third mammal species to be removed from the State's threatened fauna list as a result of successful management," Mrs Edwardes said.

"The woylie was the first to be brought back from extinction and was removed from the State, national and international endangered species lists in 1996.

"The removal of three mammals from threatened species classifications as a result of conservation management is unprecedented and an internationally significant achievement for WA."

"It demonstrates the effectiveness and importance of the Department of Conservation and Land Management's (CALM) Western Shield program."

Mrs Edwardes said WA was at the forefront in fauna recovery as a result of this program, which aimed to bring our native animals back from the brink of extinction by controlling introduced predators, the European fox and feral cat.

"Western Shield continues to protect our unique native fauna on more than 3.4 million hectares of CALM-managed lands through regular predator baiting, fauna reintroduction, recovery and monitoring," she said.

"The quenda and tammar are no longer considered threatened because of the success of recovery plans for these species under Western Shield."

Quendas (Isoodon obesulus fusciventer), found throughout the South-West of the State, now exist in high numbers where fox control is in place.

In Batalling, quenda trap success rates have increased more than 10-fold since the introduction of fox control in 1991. Quenda population recovery has also been achieved through animal relocations. At Dongolocking Nature Reserve, 24 quendas were reintroduced in 1994, this population has now grown to around 200 animals.

Tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) are found across South-West WA and on some offshore islands including Garden Island. Tammars have responded very rapidly to fox control and are now increasing in abundance throughout their baited range. Monitoring of Tutanning Nature Reserve since baiting began in 1984 has demonstrated an increase in numbers seen during standard surveys from four to more than 80.

Mrs Edwardes said WA's success with wildlife recovery had prompted conservation agencies in other States to follow our lead.

"Genaren Hills Sanctuary in NSW, with the support of the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, has sought advice and expertise from CALM as well as a number of woylies for translocation," she said.

"Genaren Hill Landcare Group aims to bring the woylie back into abundance by first reintroducing 12 woylies from WA into the feral predator proof Genaren Hills Sanctuary in the central west of NSW.

"Twelve woylies, eight females and four males, from WA's South-West will be flown to NSW tomorrow for reintroduction at the sanctuary."

CALM staff have trained Genaren Hill Sanctuary staff in the past few weeks in the handling, caring and monitoring of woylies.

The Minister said Western Shield operates on an annual budget of $1.33 million including sponsorship of $120,000 from Alcoa of and $60,000 from Cable Sands Pty Ltd.

She said that with the support of private enterprise, farmers, other landowners and local communities CALM would be able to continue conservation efforts under Western Shield ensuring that our unique native wildlife would be conserved for future generations.

Media contacts: Ministerial Nicole Trigwell on 9421 7777

CALM Dr Syd Shea on (08) 9442 0325