Australia has the worst mammal extinction record in the world. Twenty two mammals have become extinct in the last 200 years. This represents around one third of the planet’s mammal extinctions in that period. Our mammal extinction crisis is ongoing: around 20% of surviving mammal species are listed under federal legislation as being at risk of extinction.
At Mt Gibson, our key strategy is to establish a 6,000 hectare feral-free area – the largest such area on mainland Western Australia – into which at least nine threatened mammal species will be reintroduced.
Feral-proof fences are successfully deployed by AWC at Scotia, Yookamurra and Karakamia – in fact, AWC manages more fox and cat-free land than any other organisation on mainland Australia.
At Mt Gibson, a specially designed feral-proof fence – impenetrable to foxes, cats, rabbits and goats – will extend for 43 kilometres and enclose 6,000 hectares of diverse habitat.
AWC plans to initially reintroduce 10 species at Mt Gibson, of which nine are threatened including:
- Woylie
- Banded Hare-wallaby
- Greater Stick-nest Rat
- Bilby
- Numbat
- Western Barred Bandicoot
- Red-tailed Phascogale
- Shark Bay Mouse
- Chuditch
The ecological return from this investment will be exceptional, delivering a substantial increase in the global population of at least nine threatened species by 2017. For example, we expect this single project to increase the total population of Greater Stick-nest Rats by 40% and the Numbat population by 33%. Altogether, we expect the feral-free area to be home to more than 7,000 animals across the nine species.
Please make a tax deductible gift to help us establish the largest feral predator-free area in Western Australia and provide a more secure future for nine threatened mammal species. To donate, please click here.
To learn more about this project, please read pages 8-9 of the Summer 2012-2013 issue of Wildlife Matters here.
Find out more at Australian Wildlife Conservancy