The south-west of Australia is one of the world’s 34 biodiversity hotspots. This means it has a high number of unique species which are under serious threat of extinction. Perth Zoo’s Native Species Breeding Program and Wildlife Conservation Action are helping to conserve our natural heritage.
Working with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Perth Zoo breeds threatened Western Australian animal species for release into managed areas of habitat in the wild.
Perth Zoo currently breeds Western Swamp Tortoises, Numbats, Dibblers, Woylies and frogs and has had success with breeding Chuditch, Lancelin Island Skink and Shark Bay Mice for release into the wild.
The Zoo’s Native Species Breeding Program also researches the reproductive biology, husbandry and growth and development of these species which is essential in keeping the animals healthy in captivity and assisting with their breeding.
More than 2,000 native animals bred at Perth Zoo have been released into the wild since 1992. The releases have boosted existing wild populations and established new ones.
Major threats to Western Australian species include the loss, degradation and fragmentation of habitat, the introduction of predator species including foxes and cats, and competition from herbivores (feral horses, pigs, cattle).
Through Wildlife Conservation Action, Perth Zoo is able to make a greater contribution to the preservation of native animals in the wild. To date, this has included:
more than $9,500 for microchippingcritically endangered Western Ground Parrots- around $8,500 for the relocation of Greater Stick-nest Rats from Mt Gibson to Faure Island to establish a new population
- around $5,000 for the restoration of Western Swamp Tortoise habitat in Mogumber Nature Reserve as well as $8,500 for radio tracking equipment, camera traps and population monitoring
- $10,500 for research into the decline of the Woylie as well as $15,000 to help protect Woylies at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Karakamia sanctuary
- around $8,500 for Numbat monitoring in Dryandra Woodland
- $11,000 for the rearing and release of threatened frog species in the State’s southwest and $10,000 for population monitoring surveys of the Sunset Frog
- $5,000 for radio collars to track released animals at a restoration project in WA’s north.
Please donate to Wildlife Conservation Action to support this important work.
* figures are as at January 2012
