1,000-hectare sanctuary established for important native species
Numbat survey providing important data before enclosure is operational
A new 1,000-hectare, predator-proof enclosure at the proposed Dryandra Woodland National Park will help numbats and other endangered species survive in the wild.
Environment Minister Albert Jacob said the 1.8 metre high, 14.7 kilometre fence, a Liberal National Government 2013 election commitment, had been completed and work would now start on removing feral predators from the site.
"The $550,000 enclosure is designed to protect numbats, woylies and other threatened native species from predation by foxes and cats," Mr Jacob said.
"The Department of Parks and Wildlife will now start removing feral predators from inside the fence prior to the translocation of native animals.
"This work will be conducted as part of the Western Shield wildlife conservation program."
The Minister said an area within the enclosure had already been surveyed for key baseline information about numbats.
"As a haven for one of the last remaining wild populations of numbats, it is important we learn as much as we can about their distribution in specific areas of Dryandra Woodland so we can track changes once the sanctuary is operational," he said.
The numbat diggings survey was conducted by Parks and Wildlife with the assistance of community action group Project Numbat, whose volunteers were trained in identifying the distinctive digging holes left by numbats feeding on termites.
"Project Numbat's help with the numbat survey at Dryandra and at annual surveys at Boyagin Nature Reserve near Brookton has provided invaluable support for the department - community collaboration is an important part of the conservation of this iconic Western Australian species," Mr Jacob said.
Fact File
The proposed Dryandra Woodland National Park is near Williams, about two hours south-east of Perth
It is set to become the first national park solely located in WA's Wheatbelt region
Minister's office - 6552 5800
