Endangered numbats released to wild
A dozen endangered marsupials have spent the past month adjusting to life in the wild near Narrogin, after being released into Dryandra Woodland on Friday, December 12.
The numbats are the first animals to be freed in the woodland as part of conservation efforts by the Department of Parks and Wildlife and a captive breeding program at Perth Zoo running since 1987.
Dryandra Woodland is one of just two remnant populations of the species, once found widely across southern Australia but whose numbers have dwindled in recent decades because of predation by foxes and cats.
DPaW principal researcher Tony Friend has been involved with the bid to boost numbat numbers for many years and said there were an estimated 50 adult numbats in Dryandra Woodland.
It is hoped the new numbats will breed with them to increase the species’ survival prospects.
Dr Friend, who the week after the numbats’ release was scouting hollow logs for the rehomed marsupials, which were released at five sites across a 10km stretch of bush, said they will be monitored using radio collars.
“We will use a light aircraft with radio tracking antennas on the wings,” he said.
“It will be interesting to see how they go … they have a 25 per cent survival rate which we hope to beat.”
