News from the Field

Woylies make the journey north to Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary

01 Aug. 2018
© Brad Leue/AWC

Woylie (Brush-tailed Bettong) numbers at AWC’s Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary were given a boost recently when 56 of the endangered mammals were successfully translocated from the WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attraction’s (DBCA) Perup Sanctuary in the Tone-Perup Nature Reserve.

Woylies were once abundant across Australia but were brought close to extinction by feral predators. Small colonies remain in the south-west of Western Australia and at AWC’s Mt Gibson, Karakamia, Scotia and Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuaries.

The translocated Woylies were captured both inside and outside of the Perup Sanctuary, further diversifying the gene pool of the animals at Mt Gibson.

Watch our video to see some of the Woylies arrive at their new home.

 

 

The Woylies are an important addition to Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary, where they were released over three evenings. To encourage cross breeding with the established population of Woylies, males and females from Perup were separated and released in designated areas where they would be more likely to mate with the established population.

This is the last planned release of Woylies at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary. AWC has translocated 262 Woylies to the site since 2015 and we estimate the population is now more than 350 individuals. The Mt Gibson population is within Australia’s largest fox and feral cat-free area on mainland Western Australia.

 

Feral Proof Fence, Mount Gibson © Wayne Lawler/AWC
Feral Proof Fence, Mount Gibson

 

AWC’s Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary is Australia’s most successful reintroduction project. Your support for the Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary means that Woylies and seven other endangered species are being protected from feral foxes and cats, and ultimately, from extinction.

Latest news from the field

Wayne Lawler/AWC
News from the Field Press Release 19 Mar. 2024

Bilby bonanza brings on burrowing blitz

J Schofield/AWC

Subscribe to receive our latest news from the field

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.