An animal sanctuary in the Barrington Tops is working hard to ensure its native species remain safe.
Feral animals, including pigs and foxes, are known to be a primary driver of extinction in Australia, which, as a nation, holds the highest extinction rate on Earth.
However, Aussie Ark is committed to providing sanctuary for Australia’s threatened native wildlife; free from the unnatural pressures they are currently facing in the wild.
The facility is the largest of its type on mainland Australia and encompasses pristine wilderness on the edge of the Barrington Tops National Park.
Native fauna such as the endangered Eastern quoll, Long-nosed potoroo, Rufous bettong, Parma wallaby, Tasmanian devil and Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby all call the sanctuary home.
Aussie Ark staff have undertaken pest animal management training alongside a Hunter Local Land Services (HLLS) Biosecurity team to assist them in protecting the area from invasive predators such as the fox and cat, along with other harmful pest species, including pigs.
The team was successful in eradicating the last known fox to exist within a sanctuary onsite, allowing fauna to be released into the area, and thrive without fear of predation.
Ark Manager Will Hansen said the work had helped further secure the breeding program.
“This is a conservation project of national significance and, thanks to the assistance of Hunter Local Land Services, we have been able to further enhance our program, and provide an even safer home for our breeding populations for the animals in our care,” Mr Hansen said.
“The professionalism, safe practices and around the clock responsiveness of the biosecurity officers has helped to control pests within and on the boundaries of the ark.
“As a small, not-for-profit organisation, being able to utilise these services and work together to eradicate pest animals from this important habitat is of huge benefit to us and the animals we are working hard to save.”
Hunter Local Land Services Biosecurity Team Leader, Luke Booth, said, while there may be just a few pests being targeted by this latest program, the results were invaluable.
“This is a very important venture being undertaken at the Barrington Tops – in fact, it may well be the key for these threatened species’ to survive, so even just one fox not controlled within enclosures could have had dramatic effects,” he said.
“It was very encouraging to see our staff succeed, and that we could actively play a positive role in this significant conservation project.
“We will continue to work closely with Aussie Ark to ensure this site remains protected and well supported to undertake this significant breeding program.”
Go to the Aussie Ark website for more information about its work.