Paruna Sanctuary

AREA  Paruna Sanctuary 2,000 ha (4,940 acres) BIOREGION Avon-Wheatbelt WILDLIFE Mammals: 16 Birds: 86 Reptiles: 31 Amphibians: 9 THREATENED WILDLIFE At least 12 species, including: Black-flanked Rock-wallaby Woylie (Brush-tailed Bettong) Quenda Tammar Wallaby PLANTS At least 400 species THREATENED PLANTS Unknown ECOSYSTEMS 9 THREATENED ECOSYSTEMS Assessment underway ECOSYSTEMS NOT PROTECTED IN NATIONAL PARKS Assessment underway ECOSYSTEMS INADEQUATELY PROTECTED IN NATIONAL PARKS (<5% OF AREA PROTECTED) Assessment underway MAJOR ON-GROUND PROGRAMS Biodiversity surveys and monitoring Dieback control Feral animal control (feral cats, foxes) Fire management Revegetation and rehabilitation Threatened species reintroductions Visitors` programs

Paruna sanctuary is located in the Avon Valley east of Perth, and was established by AWC in 1998 to create a 2,000 ha wildlife corridor between two regionally significant National Parks: Walyunga National Park to the southwest and Avon Valley National Park to the northeast.

A broad scale feral animal control program was implemented in the region, and a number of mammals have now been reintroduced to Paruna sanctuary and Walyunga and Avon Valley National Parks, including:

• Black-flanked Rock-wallaby
• Tammar Wallaby
• Brush-tailed Bettong (Woylie)
• Southern Brown Bandicoot (Quenda)

Other species, such as the threatened Chuditch (Western Quoll), have successfully re-colonised Paruna sanctuary, highlighting the success of the functional wildlife corridor linking the two National Parks. Other mammals present in the area include the western pygmy-possum and the honey possum. Paruna sanctuary is home to:

The majority of the Paruna sanctuary consists of pristine vegetation, dominated by stunning woodlands of Wandoo and Powderbark. Some areas of the western blocks have been grazed in the past. Successful rehabilitation of this area has been undertaken with the assistance of a federal grant from the Natural Heritage Trust.

Paruna sanctuary is open to the public, with a series of walk trails that have been developed with the help of `Green Corps` volunteers. The walk trails feature areas of natural, scenic, and historical interest, and include three circuits of various lengths and difficulties to provide the community with the opportunity to enjoy the incredibly scenic environment of the Avon Valley.