Specials

Providing One Million Hectares Of Safe Haven

Endangered Species To Be Protected (Click On Images To Enlarge)

What Can Exetel/You Do To Help The Southern Ark Project?

Exetel has finalised an agreement to provide funds over a period of 24 months to FAME (Foundation for Australia’s Most Endangered Species):

www.fame.org.au

to undertake the 8 programs described in detail below. These funds are in addition to those provided by the Victorian Government to complete the eradication of the red fox from this huge area.

Exetel, on behalf of you and all other Exetel broadband customers will use a 'pool of money' generated from providing 50 cents per customer per month to be used on this and other similar projects should there be enough money to fund similar research programs.

As well as the money that Exetel will donate on your behalf you may like to donate a further amount of money yourself by authorizing Exetel to add your donation to the monthly debit for your broadband service. You can do this by selecting the project you wish to support and the amount of money you would like to donate monthly from the drop down on the left hand side of this page. You can start/stop donating at any time of your choosing.

What Is Being Done To Save This Important Species?

The Southern Ark Project

 The aim of the Southern Ark project is to eliminate (as far as is possible) the introduced Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) from an area of one million hectares of forested public land in Far East Gippsland, Victoria.  The reason that this bold initiative is being undertaken is to significantly improve and reinvigorate the biodiversity of Far East Gippsland, and in particular to improve the conservation status of a range of endangered native mammals, ground-nesting shorebirds and reptiles.  These species include the Long-nosed Potoroo, the Long-footed Potoroo, the Southern Brown Bandicoot, the Spotted-tailed Quoll, the Little Tern, the Hooded Plover and the Diamond Python. 

 The Southern Ark project is unique in Australia in a number of ways.  Firstly, the project is operating across a very large area of land, and it is easily the largest area of public land in eastern Australia where foxes are controlled for biodiversity purposes.  Secondly, while comparable large-scale fox control programs exist in Western Australia, the Southern Ark project is the only one in which baits are buried deep within constructed and maintained bait stations.  This approach specifically targets foxes and successfully precludes poison baits being found and eaten by native non-target species.  The Western Australian programs distribute baits from aircraft.  Thirdly, within the area included as part of the Southern Ark project the ecosystems are essentially intact.   Included in the Southern Ark program and they also support a full suite of predators, which includes dingoes, quolls, goannas, pythons, three species of large forest owl, and numerous diurnal birds of prey.  This makes East Gippsland unique.

 The eventual aim of the Southern Ark project is to have a substantial natural recovery of a wide range of rare and endangered species.  This recovery of rare species will be complemented by the increase in species that are not regarded as being of particular conservation concern, such as the Ringtail and Brushtail Possums and the Long-nosed Bandicoot, and the re-establishment of a wide range of ecological processes that have deteriorated or ceased since the arrival of the Red Fox.  Healthy forest and woodland ecosystems have large populations of bandicoots, potoroos and possums, turning over the soil in search of fungal truffles and invertebrates, improving soil aeration and water flow through the soil profile, helping to breakdown leaf litter and return nutrients to the soil, pollinating plants and spreading seeds.  Their presence even influences fire behaviour, since they reduce the amount of fine fuels (leaf litter and other small vegetative material) on the forest floor.  It is these fine fuels that carry and promote wildfires when they first start, and the reduction in the amount of fine fuels in the presence of robust populations of mammals makes it harder for fires to spread.

 Concurrent with the aim to increase the populations of those rare and endangered species that still exist in the wild is the aim to re-introduce a number of mammal species that have become extinct in Victoria but which still survive in Tasmania.  The three species that it is planned to eventually re-introduce are the Eastern Bettong (Bettongia gaimardi), the Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) and the Red-necked Pademelon (Thylogale billardierii).  Each of these species is common in Tasmania, and it is anticipated that a founder population can be directly established in East Gippsland from animals captured from the wild in Tasmania.  In other words, there will be no requirement to undertake any expensive captive breeding programs in order to build up population numbers.

 The only species that is currently extant in East Gippsland that it is anticipated that a captive breeding program may be undertaken to artificially increase the population following the implementation of the fox control program is the Diamond Python (Morelia spilotes spilotes).  This species is confined to the far-east coast of the Southern Ark area of operation, and although it will appreciate the reduction in the fox population, the species potential for recovery is compromised by the fact that young pythons still fall prey to a wide range of predators, including goannas and other snakes.

PROJECTS TO BE ACTIVATED FROM THIS FUNDING

Project 1: Genetic analysis of Long-nosed Potoroo populations in Far East Gippsland.

Endangered Species Involved: Long-nosed Potoroo, Potorous tridactylus

Timing: To be confirmed, genetic analysis undertaken mid to late 2008, draft paper prepared for publication by early 2009.

Project Summary:  Long-nosed Potoroos have demonstrated a considerable population recovery in a number of experimental sites in Far East Gippsland as a result of nine years of continuous fox control.  Tissue samples have been collected from most potoroos that have been captured, and a genetic analysis of these samples would be beneficial towards the understanding regarding the response of this species.  For example, it would appear that although the surviving populations of potoroos have increased substantially in number, they appear to be occupying the same general areas that they were trapped when the program began.  In other words, while there has been a population increase, there has not been an increase in site occupancy.  At Cape Conran there are three discrete areas where potoroos have been captured.  A genetic comparison of the individuals from each of these sites would determine if these populations, which are only a distance of several kilometres from each other, have remained isolated from each other despite intensive fox control.  A genetic analysis will also confirm that the genetic makeup we have within the current potoroo population was present in the population when fox control commenced.  This will confirm that what we are witnessing is a genuine increase in the resident population as a result of fox control, rather than an increase through immigration or because of an increase in the skills of those undertaking the trapping program.  Given that we have collected tissue samples from almost all the potoroos captured, it is also hoped that we can determine maternity/paternity of the population, in order to generate a €śfamily tree€ť of the potoroo population.

The collection of tissue samples from almost all of the potoroos captured in a recovering population is unique; there are no other similar collections held anywhere in Australia.  A genetic analysis of these samples will make an important contribution to the understanding as to how this endangered species responds to fox control, both temporally and spatially.

Project 2: Detailed monitoring of endangered "Critical Weight Range" mammals following the initiation of fox control

Endangered Species Involved: Long-nosed Potoroo, Potorous tridactylus, Southern Brown Bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus

Other Species Involved: Long-nosed Bandicoot, Perameles nasuta, Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus caninus.

Timing: To be confirmed, funding-dependent, but ideally traps would be purchased by June 2008, and week-long surveys at each of the nine sites undertaken in August-October 2008, February-April 2009 and August-October 2009 (using Southern Ark staff, extra casual staff (see Component 3) and volunteers)

Project Summary:  Monitoring the response of populations of endangered mammals to the ongoing fox control program is critical in demonstrating the success of the Southern Ark project.  The current monitoring program relies on the implementation of a major hairtubing program, and while this has identified some key areas where potoroos and bandicoots survive, there appears to be two key problems in the current approach.  Firstly, as outlined in the summary for Project 1, while potoroo populations that have been monitored so far have increased, their numbers have not yet expanded to occupy new areas.  Secondly, there is some evidence that in low numbers bandicoots in particular may be hairtube "neutral", i.e. show little interest in the food lures used in the hairtubes, mainly due to the relative abundance of natural food.  Once numbers increase and food becomes harder to locate, the bandicoots would appear more eager to investigate the hairtubes.  As stated above, the current hairtubing program has identified areas currently supporting small populations of potoroos and bandicoots in areas that currently do not have any fox control.  The aim of this project would be to establish cage-trapping programs at nine of these sites, with 50 traps permanently established at each site.  Trapping and marking animals as part of a repeated trapping program will enable us to more closely monitor the progress of these populations through time, and generate a significantly greater amount of detailed data when compared to hairtubing alone.  The nine sites would be surveyed twice each year, using a combined effort from Southern Ark field staff, casual employees hired specifically for the project (Component 3) and volunteers.

Project 3: Detailed monitoring of Spotted-tailed Quolls following the initiation of fox control

Endangered Species Involved: Spotted-tailed Quoll, Dasyurus maculatus

Timing: To be confirmed, funding-dependent, but ideally cameras would be purchased by end of May 2008.  Quoll surveys would be carried out between June and August.

Project Summary:  Spotted-tailed Quolls are endangered in Victoria, and it is becoming clear that where foxes are common, quolls are comparatively rare.  Conversely, where foxes are absent (Tasmania, until recently) or uncommon (north-east New South Wales), quolls are a common component of the fauna.  Quoll populations can increase if a situation arises where a larger carnivore becomes scarce; this has been the case in Tasmania following the decline in Tasmanian Devils.  It is anticipated that the decline of the fox population in Far East Gippsland, and the immediate reduction in competition for prey in combination with the increasing available prey base, possibly along with the reduced direct predation on quolls by foxes, should result in the increase of quoll population.  Currently we are not monitoring this species, mainly due to its rarity.  If, however, funding was available to (a) undertake a targeted survey of potential breeding sites and (b) to establish a series of remote cameras at likely denning/latrine sites, we would be able to commence an annual survey for this species.  The focus of the survey would be to examine rocky areas (already identified) across the region that could potentially be used by breeding females as latrine sites during the breeding season in winter.  Scats (faeces) accumulate at these latrine sites, usually from a number of males and the resident female, and are the most tell-tale signs of the presence of quolls.  Remote cameras can be left unattended at these sites for numerous weeks and record the individuals that visit the latrines, and some conclusions can be made as to the number of quolls occurring in the area, and if compared across breeding seasons can give an indication as to the response of the quoll population to fox control.  Ideally, if it is evident that a there is a strong response in the quoll population at any particular site, a trapping program would be initiated to gather a greater degree of data on the population and to more intensively monitor this population over the years.  It is often speculated that quolls and other carnivores might exhibit a "meso-carnivore" release (increase in population size following the removal of a larger carnivore) and this project is a unique opportunity to investigate if in fact this is happening.

Members of the Southern Ark team have a long history of active involvement in Spotted-tailed Quoll conservation and management, as evident by our contribution to papers published in Wildlife Research. The study site that we helped to establish just across the border in the Byadbo Wilderness of Kosciouszko National Park has generated an enormous amount of ecological data about quolls, and is likely to continue to do so.

Project 4: Trial translocation of Red-bellied Pademelon to Far East Gippsland.

Endangered Species Involved: Red-bellied Pademelon, Thylogale billardierii, currently extinct on the mainland

Timing: Late 2009

Project Summary: As explained above, the overall aim of the Southern Ark project is to improve and reinvigorate the biodiversity of the forested and coastal ecosystems in Far East Gippsland.  To this end, it is desirable to reintroduce species that have disappeared since the arrival of the fox.  The three species that we regard as having potential for reintroduction all still occur in Tasmania, and are all regarded as common.  In order to initiate the translocation process, we propose to concentrate on a trial translocation of a small number of one species, namely the Red-bellied Pademelon.  It is envisaged that between 20 and 30 individuals would be captured from the wild in Tasmania over the course of several nights, examined by a veterinarian and flown to East Gippsland as a group where they would radio-collared and released, and their survivorship monitored closely.  If deemed a success, further translocations of this species, as well as translocations of Eastern Quolls and Eastern Bettongs, would be undertaken.  While a detailed translocation proposal has not yet been written and agreed to by either Victorian, Tasmanian or Federal wildlife management agencies, informal discussions have been held with Tasmanian wildlife management staff who have agreed in principle to a translocation program.  This project has developed a new level of urgency given the recent discovery that foxes are present in Tasmania, and that the recent decline in the Tasmanian Devil population may enable the foxes to gain a foothold in that State.

The Southern Ark Operations Manager (Andrew Murray) is part of the Tasmanian Fox Eradication Technical Advisory Panel, and will be attending meetings in Tasmania four times per year, so a strong relationship between the Southern Ark project and Tasmanian authorities already exists.

Project 5: Construction of breeding enclosures for Diamond Pythons

Endangered Species Involved: Diamond Python, Morelia spilotes spilotes

Timing: mid 2009

Project Summary:  As discussed above, the Diamond Python is a species confined to Far East Gippsland in Victoria, and is regarded as endangered.  It is known that adults, juveniles and eggs are all at risk from fox predation.  Although adult pythons will benefit from the decline in fox numbers, it will take the python population some time to recover as juvenile pythons still fall prey to native predators such as goannas and other snakes.

This project is designed to assist the python population recover in Far East Gippsland.  In the first stage (the stage in which funding is being sought for at this stage) a small number of captive breeding enclosures will be built on private land in East Gippsland, in an undisclosed location to ensure the safety of the snakes from theft.  A number of adults will be captured from the wild and used as breeding animals.  The captive population of pythons will be managed by staff and volunteers who have no contact with any other captive snakes or other wildlife to ensure that those snakes bred in captivity, when released, are not transferring any diseases back to the wild.    

Project 6: Woody weed survey and recommendations for management for Gabo Island and Tullaberga Island

Significant species involved:  Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) breeding colony, White-faced Storm Petrel (Pelagodroma marina) breeding colony.

Timing: To be confirmed, survey undertaken probably late 2008 or early 2009, report submitted by June 2009

Project Summary: Gabo Island lies south of the Croajingolong National Park, which is one of wildest and most pristine lengths of the Australian coastline between Melbourne and Sydney.  It is also an International Biosphere Reserve.  Only two kilometres long and a kilometre across, Gabo Island supports the largest breeding colony of Little Penguins in Australia, and may also be used by the restricted White-faced Storm Petrel.  Tullaberga Island is a significant breeding site (only one of three in Victoria) for White-faced Storm Petrels.  While both islands are fortunately free of foxes, Gabo has a history of grazing and as a consequence it supports a wide range of woody weeds.  Tullaberga also supports a range of woody weeds.  A plan of management aimed at the control and eventual eradication of these weeds is critical, not only to ensure that the island continues to be occupied by penguins and petrels, but to ensure that weeds do not eventually find their way onto the mainland, where they will be infinitely harder to control.

Professional botanists, who have already made a preliminary visit to the islands, will undertake a survey of the island, identify the species of woody weeds present and their distribution, and present a report that will: (a) make recommendations as to how these species can be controlled in the short to medium term, and (b) suggest a longer term plan to ensure that these weeds are eradicated (or as close as feasible) from the island.  This survey and subsequent report will be presented to the land management agency (Parks Victoria) in order for them to secure funding to undertake the weed control work. 

Project 7: Survey to determine the distribution of the endangered Orbost Spiny Crayfish survey

Endangered Species Involved:  Orbost Spiny Crayfish, Euastacus diversus

Timing: Late 2008 or early 2009

Project Summary:  The Orbost Spiny Crayfish is an endangered freshwater crayfish confined to a small area of East Gippsland north of Orbost.  While appropriate management prescriptions are applied to those sites where the crayfish has been found, as part of the Flora & Fauna Guarantee Action Statement, no systematic survey has ever been carried out to identify the overall distribution of this species.  While this project is not strictly part of the Southern Ark project, it does concern a species at risk from predation, in this case from the introduced Brown Trout.

Project 8: Conference & Miscellaneous Expenses

Timing: As required

Project Summary:  One of the most valuable methods of disseminating information to colleagues about the important work being undertaken in Far East Gippsland is attendance at relevant conferences.  These conferences also offer the opportunity to meet others working in the same field.

The Southern Ark Operations Manager would attend these conferences, discuss the projects funded through FAME and make the appropriate acknowledgements to funding sources.

It is anticipated that project findings will be presented to Australasian Wildlife Management Society and Australian Mammal Society in Fremantle and Darwin respectively in 2008 and 2009.

SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS

The Southern Ark project has reached iconic status within Victoria, with fox control already implemented across 500,000 hectares of the total 900,000 hectares.  While the Victorian State government provides funding for the baiting program and some broad-scale monitoring of the mammal response, funding for more detailed monitoring of the endangered species that have been driven to the point of extinction by foxes, but which have a fantastic capacity to recover, will be critical for the ongoing success of the project.  Funding will also be required to monitor and assist the population recovery of native predators such as quolls and pythons, which have declined significantly after over 100 years of predation and competition by foxes.  Funding will also be required to help kick-start the process of reintroducing those species that have disappeared from East Gippslands forests, but which remain abundant in what was the island fortress of Tasmania.  The urgency in re-establishing these species within safe mainland sites cannot be under-estimated given the recent discovery of foxes in Tasmania.

 

References

Project Updates

Progress reports by the Project manager for this and other Exetel sponsored projects can be found here:

http://forum.exetel.com.au/viewforum.php?f=323&sid=7921f33759cf99130d18660f0b5ebc49