How many animals
are left?
Getting help from UQ (Bryan Siebel)
Queensland was in the grip of a severe drought between 2001 and 2007, and subsequently Bridled Nailtail wallaby populations at Taunton and Idalia National Parks appear to have declined quite seriously. The population at Idalia dropped to as little as 100 animals (25% of the 2001 population size) and preliminary data from a recent study by Dominique Sigg, Anne Goldizen and Andrew Lowe suggests that this has led to a worrying loss of genetic diversity.
Unfortunately, robust population numbers do not exist, as not all sites have been surveyed. This is highly problematic as knowing how many animals are left is fundamental for management decisions and for understanding whether conservation efforts are actually working. As such, the Trust has teamed up with the University of Queensland (UQ) to undertake the the necessary research on Avocet reserve, while the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service is surveying the other two sites. During 2008 Lisa Kingsley, a student with UQ, will base her field studies at Avocet. At present we think there are only 200 wallabies left in the wild across the three sites. We hope to have more definite data within a few months. Meanwhile intensive feral predator control will continue at Avocet.
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| A wild born, fully independent joey (GJ Harris) |
Volunteers at Avocet |