Sanctuary a safety zone for marsupials
Balijup Fauna Sanctuary - south east of Tenterden - is set to provide a safe habitat for some of the Great Southern's most threatened marsupial species.
The enclosure, consisting of 111ha of bushland and 4.3km of fence line, was officially opened last Friday and will become a viable breeding ground without the threat of feral pests for the population of the southern brown bandicoot, bush-tailed phascogale and other vulnerable species.
Third-generation Balijup property owner Alan Hordacre said the sanctuary was "very positive for the country and the land".
"It is a legacy to my parents who did fence off bushland on our property to preserve and protect it, and we are pleased we can contribute," he said.
"I'm sure there will be a lot to learn and it's great so far.
"We have uncovered a lot of the country's history - when the land was taken up, original survey data - it's really interesting.
"The sanctuary will expose and give access to the bush, for people that can't normally get there."
The sanctuary was opened by Member for Wagin Terry Waldron and Mr Hordacre and through monitoring specific wildlife and vegetation plots within the enclosure, the sanctuary will become a valuable educational tool and conservation facility for the region.
"It will be fantastic especially with the experts that we have available and our neighbours are participating too, so there is a slow but steady intergenerational acceptance and realisation that the bush is important," Mr Hordacre said.
