Locally-extinct wildlife are to find new homes with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) expanding its rewilding efforts and earmarking the State’s next feral-predator free area.
Announced by Minister for Environment, James Griffin, NPWS is establishing a network of seven feral predator free areas across the state, making it a world leader in rewilding.
Mr Griffin said the newest of the seven feral free areas was a 2,000-hectare forest in South East Forest National Park near Bombala, called ‘Nungatta’.
“Feral cats and foxes, which kill billions of native animals nationally every year, will be completely eradicated within this fenced rewilding site,” Mr Griffin said.
“Then when the site is feral predator free, we’ll reintroduce native mammals that were once abundant in this habitat, such as the long-footed potoroo, eastern bettong, smoky mouse, and eastern quoll,” he said.
“Through Nungatta and our six other feral predator free areas in NSW national parks, we’re rewilding our state and helping our threatened species thrive into the future.”
Mr Griffin said that once all seven sites were completed, 65,000 hectares of national parks would be feral free and provide a significant conservation benefit for more than 50 species.
The Minister said three of the seven sites were already operational, and nine locally extinct mammals had been successfully reintroduced, “with their populations flourishing.”
He said NPWS was seeking feedback until 16 June on the draft amendment to the plan of management for South East Forest National Park and Egan Peaks Nature Reserve which would create the feral-predator free area.
NPWS’s 27-page Draft Amendment can be accessed at this PS News link.
