Martin Copley AM, 1940-2014 | Leading the fight against feral cats | Mt Gibson: creating the largest feral predator-free area in WA | Biological surveys and moreRead more...
Wildlife translocations at Paruna
AWC has conducted several wildlife translocations at Paruna since 2000. Five species have been translocated: the Black-flanked Rock-wallaby, Tammar Wallaby, Woylie, Quenda and Brushtail Possum.
- Tammar Wallabies and Black-flanked Rock-wallabies have successfully established wild, self-sustaining populations.
- The population of Black-flanked Rock-wallabies at Paruna may conserve important genetic variation as they were translocated from populations in the Wheatbelt that are currently in decline.
- Brushtail Possums and Quenda are present at low densities.
- The Woylie population at Paruna has now dropped below detectable numbers.
The fact that the Woylie population has not successfully established and increased at Paruna highlights the vulnerability of the species to feral cat predation (the overall population across south-western Australia has decreased by 90% over the last 15 years). This further highlights the critical need to establish additional mainland islands – ie, fox and cat-free areas surrounded by feral-proof fencing – such as the feral-free areas already established by AWC at Karakamia and Scotia and the area being established by AWC at Mt Gibson.