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Big find of native animals

Researchers working in the Kimberley have uncovered new populations of native animals - including some which are endangered - as part of efforts to deal with the onslaught of cane toads.

As scientists scramble to better understand the vast and remote northern region, the Department of Parks and Wildlife said a recent audit of biodiversity in the area had yielded significant finds.

Among them was the discovery of a previously unknown population of northern quolls, a threat-ened species of carnivorous marsupials that are also known as the northern native cat.

Working in areas that have not been surveyed, staff from the department and Aboriginal rangers have also found bandicoots, water rats, "very large" crocodiles and an almost legless lizard known as the Kalumburu slider.


Binoes gecko


The department said the discoveries were important given the tide of cane toads moving west across the region from the Northern Territory.

Introduced into Queensland from Brazil via Hawaii in the 1930s, cane toads have become one of the biggest threats to the environment in Australia.

Premier Colin Barnett has described them as "the biggest environmental disaster to ever hit" the Kimberley because they are poisonous to predators and compete with native species for food.

Environment Minister Albert Jacob said information gathered during projects such as the recent survey was crucial because it would help develop management plans for the area.

"Quolls are vulnerable to impacts such as cane toads, so it is important we have an understanding of their distribution across the Kimberley," Mr Jacob said.


Common planigale


"At the Cockburn Range, a variety of reptiles and amphibians in four different habitat types were found, which was a very good result considering cane toads have been in the area since 2011."

Despite the optimism prompted by the department's discoveries, the finds come against a grim outlook for hopes of repelling the march of cane toads across the rest of northern WA.

A department review of the State's cane toad strategy in June found that efforts to stop them invading the Kimberley - which had so far cost $7.8 million - had failed.


Ctenotus inornatus


Measures found not to have worked were the use of parasitic lungworms and fencing off sensitive areas.

The review suggested that in the absence of a breakthrough to eradicate the species it would be critical to stop satellite populations establishing in sensitive parts of the Kimberley such as its islands.

It came after Mr Jacob declared in May last year that cane toads were here to stay and the Government's focus was to make sure native animals could cope.


Common rock rat


Shadow environment minister Chris Tallentire welcomed news of the discoveries but criticised the Government for "giving up" on the fight to stop cane toads invading WA.

Mr Tallentire said in light of finding new populations of animals such as the northern quoll it was imperative the Government properly fund efforts to protect them by recruiting volunteers to help and giving them suitable resources.


Northern knob tailed geck