Thirteen endangered long-nosed potoroos have been trapped, undergone health checks and relocated in a joint project aimed at promoting their chances of survival.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The potoroos – tiny members of the kangaroo family – were captured by Forestry Corporation of NSW staff in state forests south of Eden last week and released in their new home in the Booderee National Park at Jervis Bay.
Forestry Corporation is working with Parks Australia, the Australian National University and the Taronga Conservation Society on the project.
The corporation’s Eden-based senior field ecologist, Peter Kambouris, said the release followed the successful relocation of 23 potoroos from Eden to Booderee last year.
“The reintroduction of the species from state forests into the national park estate is a pivotal milestone in the strategic management of pest animals such as foxes and threatened species in NSW,“ Mr Kambouris said.
Before being released, the potoroos underwent a rigorous health check by specialist vet staff from the Taronga Conservation Society. They were also fitted with microchips and radio trackers to monitor their movements and their health in their new environment.
Dr Nick Dexter, senior project officer with Parks Australia, commended the project for improving the survival prospects of the potoroos.
Dr Dexter said before the first release last spring, potoroos had been extinct in the Booderee area for many years. Monitoring now showed that the potoroos were now breeding.
Tony Carter, a staff member of the Booderee National Park and member of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community, said the long-nosed potoroos were once an important and abundant species for the local traditional owners.
“Our people recognise the important role these animals play in the health of our country,” Mr Carter said.
“I am glad to see introduced pests managed to a level where important native species can be returned,” he said.