Landholders living on boundaries of the Wellington National Park in Western Australia’s South West are reporting seeing native wildlife species on their properties they haven’t spotted in years following completion of an 18-month project targeting reduction of introduced predators by South West NRM and Leschenault Catchment Council.
The two environmental organisations received a Saving Native Species grant from the Australian Government in May, 2024 to protect native species living in Wellington National Park and under threat of extinction.
Under the Saving Native Species in Wellington National Park project, the organisations teamed up with Leschenault Biosecurity Group who coordinated and delivered a targeted and highly successful on-ground feral animal control program to support park populations of the chuditch (western quoll), quokka and western ringtail possum.
One of the biggest identified threats to the ongoing survival of these native populations is introduced predators such as foxes, feral cats and feral pigs which prey on wildlife and/or destroy their habitats.
Introduced predator control within the National Park is undertaken by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) through the Western Shield Program but beyond the park boundaries where privately-owned properties are located, the threat of these predators often remains.
It was the owners of these private properties which we sought to work with through this project, targeting introduced predators roaming on their land that were beyond the reach of Western Shield but likely to still be entering the National Park to prey on native wildlife.
A total of 61 landowners in the Preston Valley put their hands up to be involved, well beyond initial hopes and expectations for the project.
As a result of control works undertaken, 316 introduced predators were removed.
A project booklet is continuing to provide information for landowners about controlling introduced predators on their properties.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government Saving Native Species Program.
“Being part of this project has made a real difference – not just to our land but to the native species living around it. We’ve seen the return of wildlife that we hadn’t spotted in years such as quendas, possums, skinks and an array of birds.”
