A joint project between the Environment Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate and Victoria’s Zoological Parks and Gardens Board, known as Zoos Victoria, has been announced to save the endangered Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.
With funding support of $80,000 from the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Recovery Fund, the joint project is aimed at helping the long-term survival of the species which has only an estimated 40 animals left in the wild.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Mick Gentleman said the initiative would fund the construction of a new 120 ha semi-wild, predator-proof enclosure at Tidbinbilla, which would house up to 100 Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies.
“This will provide increased opportunities to reintroduce animals bred within the enclosure to sites in Victoria and potentially within the ACT,” Mr Gentleman said.
“It also allows for greater research to be undertaken into the wallaby’s ecology.”
He said researchers are now moving threatened species management away from intensive breeding programs and husbandry.
“Research shows that although numbers are important, the genetic integrity of individual animals is critical to their overall survival,” Mr Gentleman said.
The Minister said the aim at Tidbinbilla was to breed a population of wallabies with a strong gene pool.
General Manager of Threatened Species, at Zoos Victoria, Craig Whiteford said his Agency was pleased to further its partnership with Tidbinbilla through the provision of up to $430,000 in funding towards the enclosure.
“Urgent action is needed to save the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby from extinction and to implement long-term strategies for their release back into the wild,” Mr Whiteford said.
“Of the 15 species of Rock-wallaby in Australia, most have disappeared from their original range and are now considered threatened.”
He said Tidbinbilla was well placed to host the new facility as it had played a vital role in the recovery of the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby since the 1980s.
Work on the enclosure is expected to begin in July and be completed by the end of the year.
