>>AWC’s ambitious project to restore central Australia’s lost biodiversity at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary has reached a new milestone – the eradication of all feral predators from the 9,400-hectare fenced area, making Newhaven home to the largest feral-free area on mainland Australia.<<

https://www.australianwildlife.org/newhaven-wildlife-sanctuary-stage-1-declared-feral-free/

PermeateFree said:

>>AWC’s ambitious project to restore central Australia’s lost biodiversity at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary has reached a new milestone – the eradication of all feral predators from the 9,400-hectare fenced area, making Newhaven home to the largest feral-free area on mainland Australia.<<

https://www.australianwildlife.org/newhaven-wildlife-sanctuary-stage-1-declared-feral-free/

It sounds like a lot of ground. But we were losing bigger bits of ground than that to bushfire in an afternoon all through the last season.

PermeateFree said:

>>AWC’s ambitious project to restore central Australia’s lost biodiversity at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary has reached a new milestone – the eradication of all feral predators from the 9,400-hectare fenced area, making Newhaven home to the largest feral-free area on mainland Australia.<<

https://www.australianwildlife.org/newhaven-wildlife-sanctuary-stage-1-declared-feral-free/

An excellent short video about the animals they are saving.

https://youtu.be/8_CnSHtKr8Y

And some very bad news:

Koalas declared ‘functionally extinct’ as numbers drop too low to support the next generation.

https://www.ecowatch.com/koalas-functionally-extinct-australia-2637183484.html

sarahs mum said:

PermeateFree said:

>>AWC’s ambitious project to restore central Australia’s lost biodiversity at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary has reached a new milestone – the eradication of all feral predators from the 9,400-hectare fenced area, making Newhaven home to the largest feral-free area on mainland Australia.<<

https://www.australianwildlife.org/newhaven-wildlife-sanctuary-stage-1-declared-feral-free/

It sounds like a lot of ground. But we were losing bigger bits of ground than that to bushfire in an afternoon all through the last season.

In that country, wildfires tend to be limited due to the low spaced vegetation that will extinguish themselves. Very big difference to the largely big timber environments of Tasmania and the Eastern States. Plus they are doing fuel reduction burns that also protect the area from spreading fires and as importantly, improve the area for wildlife.

Divine Angel said:

And some very bad news:

Koalas declared ‘functionally extinct’ as numbers drop too low to support the next generation.

https://www.ecowatch.com/koalas-functionally-extinct-australia-2637183484.html

This applies to local populations primarily in Queensland. In SA they are now providing their Koalas with contraception to reduce their population growth.

Divine Angel said:

And some very bad news:

Koalas declared ‘functionally extinct’ as numbers drop too low to support the next generation.

https://www.ecowatch.com/koalas-functionally-extinct-australia-2637183484.html

That’s been the writing on the wall for a while.

PermeateFree said:

>>AWC’s ambitious project to restore central Australia’s lost biodiversity at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary has reached a new milestone – the eradication of all feral predators from the 9,400-hectare fenced area, making Newhaven home to the largest feral-free area on mainland Australia.<<

https://www.australianwildlife.org/newhaven-wildlife-sanctuary-stage-1-declared-feral-free/

Wonderful news. I hope they plan on introducing other critically endangered species into the area.

roughbarked said:

Divine Angel said:

And some very bad news:

Koalas declared ‘functionally extinct’ as numbers drop too low to support the next generation.

https://www.ecowatch.com/koalas-functionally-extinct-australia-2637183484.html

That’s been the writing on the wall for a while.

Can koalas be bred in captivity?

If they are doing that do they need to breed more?

Tau.Neutrino said:

roughbarked said:

Divine Angel said:

And some very bad news:

Koalas declared ‘functionally extinct’ as numbers drop too low to support the next generation.

https://www.ecowatch.com/koalas-functionally-extinct-australia-2637183484.html

That’s been the writing on the wall for a while.

Can koalas be bred in captivity?

If they are doing that do they need to breed more?

Well you would want them out in the bush breeding because that indicates healthy bush…to a point anyway.

PermeateFree said:

sarahs mum said:

PermeateFree said:

>>AWC’s ambitious project to restore central Australia’s lost biodiversity at Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary has reached a new milestone – the eradication of all feral predators from the 9,400-hectare fenced area, making Newhaven home to the largest feral-free area on mainland Australia.<<

https://www.australianwildlife.org/newhaven-wildlife-sanctuary-stage-1-declared-feral-free/

It sounds like a lot of ground. But we were losing bigger bits of ground than that to bushfire in an afternoon all through the last season.

In that country, wildfires tend to be limited due to the low spaced vegetation that will extinguish themselves. Very big difference to the largely big timber environments of Tasmania and the Eastern States. Plus they are doing fuel reduction burns that also protect the area from spreading fires and as importantly, improve the area for wildlife.

I was not trying to take away from what has been done. I am just sad that that is all.

AwesomeO said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

roughbarked said:

That’s been the writing on the wall for a while.

Can koalas be bred in captivity?

If they are doing that do they need to breed more?

Well you would want them out in the bush breeding because that indicates healthy bush…to a point anyway.

Then a bush breeding program in healthy bush free from human encroachment, fire, cars, feral cats etc

Identify places for special koala reserves.

Work out how many are needed to bring the population back up to a healthy number.

Tau.Neutrino said:

AwesomeO said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Can koalas be bred in captivity?

If they are doing that do they need to breed more?

Well you would want them out in the bush breeding because that indicates healthy bush…to a point anyway.

Then a bush breeding program in healthy bush free from human encroachment, fire, cars, feral cats etc

Identify places for special koala reserves.

Work out how many are needed to bring the population back up to a healthy number.

Add a drone and you have the Wookie book of problem solving.

sarahs mum said:

PermeateFree said:

sarahs mum said:

It sounds like a lot of ground. But we were losing bigger bits of ground than that to bushfire in an afternoon all through the last season.

In that country, wildfires tend to be limited due to the low spaced vegetation that will extinguish themselves. Very big difference to the largely big timber environments of Tasmania and the Eastern States. Plus they are doing fuel reduction burns that also protect the area from spreading fires and as importantly, improve the area for wildlife.

I was not trying to take away from what has been done. I am just sad that that is all.

I am not criticising your comments, only adding additional information and hopefully a clearer perspective. This I always do, but people seem to think I am being argumentative or critical. I believe in spreading knowledge and rational ideas.

Love AWC’s work.

Always saddened though that a non-profit, private organisation is tasked to take the lead on conservation efforts in Australia.

PermeateFree said:

sarahs mum said:

PermeateFree said:

In that country, wildfires tend to be limited due to the low spaced vegetation that will extinguish themselves. Very big difference to the largely big timber environments of Tasmania and the Eastern States. Plus they are doing fuel reduction burns that also protect the area from spreading fires and as importantly, improve the area for wildlife.

I was not trying to take away from what has been done. I am just sad that that is all.

I am not criticising your comments, only adding additional information and hopefully a clearer perspective. This I always do, but people seem to think I am being argumentative or critical. I believe in spreading knowledge and rational ideas.

I was just depressed.

Speedy said:

Love AWC’s work.

Always saddened though that a non-profit, private organisation is tasked to take the lead on conservation efforts in Australia.

I saw an article about one of those parks that described a different landscape without sheep, cats or foxes. More growth, lots of diggings and trails from little critters.

AwesomeO said:

Speedy said:

Love AWC’s work.

Always saddened though that a non-profit, private organisation is tasked to take the lead on conservation efforts in Australia.

I saw an article about one of those parks that described a different landscape without sheep, cats or foxes. More growth, lots of diggings and trails from little critters.

The knowledge of being in a landscape with a full compliment of native species has been lost to us for too long. Once these predator free zones develop, we should then know what we have been missing and I would love more than anything else to experience it.

roughbarked said:

Divine Angel said:

And some very bad news:

Koalas declared ‘functionally extinct’ as numbers drop too low to support the next generation.

https://www.ecowatch.com/koalas-functionally-extinct-australia-2637183484.html

That’s been the writing on the wall for a while.

Last I heard, there is still a need to cull koalas because there are too many of them for the bush to support. Kangaroo Island.

mollwollfumble said:

roughbarked said:

Divine Angel said:

And some very bad news:

Koalas declared ‘functionally extinct’ as numbers drop too low to support the next generation.

https://www.ecowatch.com/koalas-functionally-extinct-australia-2637183484.html

That’s been the writing on the wall for a while.

Last I heard, there is still a need to cull koalas because there are too many of them for the bush to support. Kangaroo Island.

>>Birth control for koalas? Hormone implant set to control booming numbers in parts of Adelaide

A koala fertility program is being implemented in parts of South Australia in a bid to control booming numbers, despite the marsupial now being listed as a vulnerable species in others parts of the country.

Experts have previously warned that koalas are on track to become extinct by 2050 in New South Wales.

It has prompted the World Wildlife Fund of Australia to push for koalas to be listed as an endangered species on the east coast of Australia.

But there is seemingly no such issue in the Adelaide Hills and Mount Lofty Ranges, with experts revealing high numbers are having a destructive impact on native vegetation.

A recent survey has estimated there are about 150,000 koalas in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Adelaide Hills, and 50,000 on Kangaroo Island.<<

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-05-17/koala-fertility-program-used-to-control-booming-numbers/11124428

Well that is a good news story but at 9,400 hectares the other 765 603 300 hectares is going to still need some help.

nut said:

Well that is a good news story but at 9,400 hectares the other 765 603 300 hectares is going to still need some help.

There are others making a sizable area, but as you suggest many more are required. However they do offer the prospect of species being eaten out by the introduced predators. It is shameful that governments do not put in more money to reduce predator numbers, guess they don’t consider our wildlife to be economically viable.