From: Alan Horsup [alan.horsup@derm.qld.gov.au]
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 11:20 PM
Subject: Northen hairy-nosed wombat translocation

Hi All

Sorry for this impersonal message but I thought you would be interested to hear how the first translocation of northern hairy-nosed wombats is progressing. As of last month, we have five ‘northerns’ at a new site on a cattle property in south western Queensland. It is almost hard to believe after many years working towards this day! But its true! Going back a few months ….

During trapping at Epping Forest National Park in March, April and May 2009, we radio-collared five males and two female wombats which met the target size and age for translocation (we hoped to translocate up to 4 males and 8 females in 2009). These were collared in advance to habituate to their collars and so that we could (hopefully) trap them quickly while having a plane on standby during the translocation.

On 15 July 2009 we set traps for these individuals. The first five nights were very cold and we caught nothing! Then it got noticeably warmer and we caught 9 wombats in five nights. Five of these (four males and one female) were flown to Yarran Downs, the new site, near St George in SW Queensland. They were released down artificial burrows that we had dug using a bobcat and auger. We created a 90^o bend in the burrow by first augering a straight 3.5 m hole, angled into the ground at about 30^o. We then augered a second hole into the side of the first and blocked the entrance to the first hole to create a burrow that did not have light reaching the end of it. Feed and water stations, like those at Epping Forest NP, were established near the artificial burrows and throughout the wombat habitat at Yarran Downs. And of course, the 100 h site is completely surrounded by a predator-proof fence.

The five wombats (three radio-collared and two not collared) have been monitored by radio-tracking from fixed stations, by tracking to their burrows each morning and using remote video cameras at feed stations and along trails. Unusually, the 3 radio-collared wombats are sharing one artificial burrow, which they have started to enlarge. This is probably because there are not many burrows available at this stage and possibly because temperatures are a bit colder than at Epping Forest.

We have captured great video footage of all three radio-collared wombats eating and drinking at a feed station. We have even seen the female chasing a male away from a feed station. The two non-radio-collared wombats are harder to monitor but we are seeing heaps of digging activity at two other burrows, plus lots of fresh dung and tracks.

There is still a long way to go before we can say the translocation has been successful. This includes moving more wombats later this year and in 2010 to increase numbers at Yarran Downs. But so far the wombats appear to be settling in pretty well. If you would like to know more about the translocation, click on the link to the Department of Environment and Resource Management site and read the Wombat Diary blogs on the right of the screen:

http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/nature_conservation/wildlife/threatened_plants_and_animals/endangered/northern_hairynosed_wombat/index.html

If you know of anyone who would be interested in this news, please feel free to pass this email on.

Regards, ALAN

Dr Alan Horsup
Senior Conservation Officer (Threatened Species)
Sustainable Communities and Landscapes Division
Department of Environment and Resource Management
Ph 07 4936 0549
Mob 0419 642 545
Fax 07 4936 2212
www.derm.qld.gov.au

Snail Mail:
PO Box 3130
Red Hill Qld 4701
Street Address:
Cnr Yeppoon and Norman Roads
Parkhurst Qld 4702