Potoroos to be Released in the Barrington Tops

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Thirty long-nosed Potoroos are set to be released into a Barrington wildlife sanctuary this week. 

One of the lesser-known Australian marsupial species, the Potoroo is one of the smallest and oldest relatives of the kangaroo, and has remained relatively unchanged for around 10 million years. 

Since opening their Hunter sanctuary in 2020, Aussie Ark have worked to enclose 400 hectares of native habitat, removing feral predators to provide a safe refuge for the animals. 

Aussie Ark Curator Kelly Davis, said the organisation is committed to reviving the species in the Hunter. 

"Since European settlement, foxes and cats have been a massive issue for them, causing a real decline in their numbers. So, when we made the transition to Aussie Ark, they were one of the species we wanted to bring onboard," Ms Davis said. 

"They were found in the Barrington Tops historically and you still get the odd one or two that's hanging on, but they've had a really big population decline and they're a really important species."

 
"Having an insurance population of Potoroos that we've built up over the last five years, the idea behind that is that we are returning those animals to where they have been lost," she said. 

Referred to by the team as "ecosystem engineers", it's hoped the Potoroo will also have a positive impact on Barrington's environment. 

"They're really vital. They're actually fungivores, so they're eating mushrooms and other fungus and basically in doing that, they're turning over the soil and spreading those fungal spores, which in turn, helps to break down the leaf litter and reduces the fuel in the bush," Ms Davis said. 

"We're talking about an animal that really only gets to about a kilo, and in the numbers that they should have and have historically had, they do play a role in reducing the severity of bushfires." 

The critters are expected to be released in the coming days, following final health checks. 

Ms Davis said "It's crazy to think something so small has such a big impact."

Image: Aussie Ark

Joey survives cold in morning miracle in Barrington Tops

BY JAKSON BERTOLI

Aussie Ark Rangers were treated to a surprise appearance from a three-month-old joey this morning.

Ranger Kelly Davis found the young kangaroo, affectionately named Stanley, in the cold while on her early morning rounds.

The joey was rushed back to Ark HQ to warm up and be checked for injuries.

Fortunately, Stanley was more than okay after being warmed up and given a bottle.

He will be looked after for the next six months before joining the conservation program.

Torrential Weather Wreaks Havoc on Hunter Wildlife

 BY SIOBHAN HARVEY 

After weeks of torrential wet weather hammering the East coast of Australia it seems there is no end in sight.

With up to 300mm of rain predicted in some areas, the already sodden areas have been issued with evacuation and watch orders, leading conservationists at Aussie Ark to worry for the wildlife left behind. 

The catastrophic flood events have caused significant ruin to the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary, including damaged predator proof fences, washed away access roads and wildlife left without homes. 

The devastation will be long lasting, with species displaced they are are at greater risk of predation by feral animals, car strike and disease. 

Aussie Ark have set up the Australian Wildlife Flood Appeal to aid in the long term recovery of the nations battered wildlife from the current relentless weather conditions. 

Aussie Ark Director Liz Gabriel said this weather event has enforced the importance of protecting our wildlife.  

"We have experienced weeks of near non-stop rain, and the impacts to our sanctuaries are devastating. Our wildlife has been handed blow after blow in recent years, making the long term rehabilitation and protection of our wildlife that much more critical," she said.  

The conservation organisation works to protect the abundance of native fauna already existing within the sanctuaries at Aussie Ark, including 50 mammal species, 278 bird species, 42 reptile species and 18 frog species. 

Aussie Ark is calling on the community to help ensure the nations wildlife are given the chance to recover.

The Australian Wildlife Flood Appeal will help assist in recovering critical reforestation projects, flood recovery and build long-term futures for our wildlife.  

Image: Australian Reptile Park 

Mass Galah Death Raises Alarm Over Mouse Poison

BY OLIVIA DILLON 

Bird experts are warning against mouse baits which are set to be distributed across the Hunter Valley, for fears wildlife could die in large numbers.

BirdLife Australia, the Difficult Research Bird Group from the Australian National University and researchers at Edith Cowan University are again calling for regulators to prevent the distribution of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGAR) in mass quantities, as part of the NSW government’s mouse plague response. 

The government plans to distribute up to 10,000 litres of bromadiolone, a SGAR which is highly toxic to birds and other wildlife and causes internal bleeding. 

BirdLife Australia Urban Birds Program Manager, Holly Parsons, said where experts were already concerned with the effect of the chemicals on birds of prey, the latest mass galah deaths indicate the impact it may have on seed-eating birds who may ingest the poison by feeding on laced grains. 

"Scenes of piles of dead galahs are heart-breaking, but even more concerning is the prospect that these poisons could push an endangered bird species closer to extinction," she said. 

Parsons hopes the government will choose to hand out alternative pesticides in consideration of species such as the Superb Parrot, a threatened bird with less than 8000 individuals left. 

"There are a range of poisons that are available that are far less likely to have an impact. We have what are called "first-generation rodenticides", which are much less likely to impact other wildlife as they break down quite quickly. There is also a product called zinc phosphide, which is specifically designed to be used on a broad scale in these kind of situations." 

Image Credit: 7News

First Baby Quolls Born in the Barrington Tops in 60 Years

BY DAKOTA TAIT

The birth of 13 Eastern quoll joeys in the Barrington Tops - the first born in the region in 60 years - has given wildlife restoration efforts new hope in bringing the endangered species back from the brink.

A population of 28 quolls was initially reintroduced to the Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary by Aussie Ark in 2020.

The nocturnal marsupials went extinct in the wild across Australia in 1963 because of invasive predators such as foxes and feral cats.

More than 100 joeys have been born as part of Aussie Ark's breeding program across the country.

Aussie Ark Ranger Max Jackson says the quolls are thriving in the wild and have even been spotting sunbaking.

“The birth of these lucky 13 joeys, proves that the Eastern quolls are healthy enough to raise young in the wild, without any intervention from us, which is our ultimate goal," Mr Jackson said.

"Hopefully, this is the beginning of a robust and thriving population of Eastern quolls in the Barrington Tops.”

Hunter Residents Koalified to Report Wildlife Sightings

BY LILLY HAINES

NSW communities are being asked to share where they have seen wildlife in their local area as a new online Community Wildlife Survey launched yesterday.

The survey, conducted by the Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH), asks local people to record sightings of ten key animals wherever they have been sighted across NSW in the last two years.

The survey is being funded as a part of the $44.7 million NSW Koala Strategy which is helping to secure the future of koalas in the wild.

Koala populations around the Hunter have been in decline over recent years in some areas and the NSW Koala Strategy also provides funding to set aside more than 20 000 hectares of state forest in NSW regions including the Hunter.

Port Stephens is the home to the largest population in the Hunter and even their numbers are decreasing dramatically with reports forecasting the extinction of the NSW koala population by 2050 without intervention. 

Science Director of the OEH, Dr. Tom Celebrezze, said the survey is collecting data on the populations of brushtail possums, foxes, platypus, wombats, koalas, spotted-tailed quolls, kangaroos, deer, and dingos.

"One great thing about using citizen scientists and local volunteers is that they're everywhere so this approach using people's eye witness accounts means we have millions of eyes looking for ten different common animals and that gives us some baseline information about where those animals are being seen," Mr Celebrezze said.

"This means that we then get data about these species that informs a whole range of programs and research, knowing where koalas are being seen so we know where the populations are located means that we can add that [information] to the many different programs we are doing looking at koalas," said Mr Celebrezze.

The OEH says community wildlife sightings are hugely valuable to researchers with the data from the survey helping to gain a better understanding of where wildlife is as well as information on their health and any threats to the animals.

The last survey was conducted by the OEH in 2006 when more than 16 000 people shared their wildlife sightings which helped shape research and conservation priorities for NSW, and this new survey hopes gather data showing how populations have changed in over ten years.

"We just really encourage everyone to get involved, maybe you have been on a family trip and your kids have seen an animal and maybe it's a good opportunity for them to learn more about science and how they can get involved in conservation," Mr Celebrezze said.

The Community Wildlife Survey can be accessed here.

Image: John Spencer/OEH

Awareness Campaign For Cessnock Bushland

BY ARIANA GATTI

Cessnock City Council has just launched a new campaign to raise and bring awareness to the importance of the current sustainable state of the surrounding bushland.

The new campaign comes in conjunction with two short films that were recently produced by General Manager and Head of Conservation at the Australian Reptile Park, Tim Faulkner, after his extended visit to the area.

Image Sourced: http://www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/council/news/TimFaulknervisitsourbushland

Both films saw the team up between Faulkner and Project Coordinator from BirdLife Australia, Mick Roderick in order to highlight the significance of flora and fauna of the region to potential visitors and tourists, as well as the impact of illegal dumping and logging.

The bushland around Cessnock is host to many endangered species of flora and fauna which still flourishes as a result of the area being the largest remnant of open land vegetation within the Hunter Valley.

The campaign to educate locals and tourists alike received funding from the NSW State Government through its Environmental Trust.

The environmental-based short films will be available to the public by the end of the month on Cessnock City Council's FaceBook page and website.

Sustainability Officer for Cessnock City Council, Karinda Stone, says the films will be very helpful in generating interest in the regions bushland.

"They will just be short, little films that we'll get out on social media to help raise people's awareness of what's around our area".

"We want people to be aware of the unique wildlife in our region, and with that knowledge, be able to help us protect the bushland that we've got in order to preserve those species", she says.

Image Sourced: http://www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/environment/weeds