• PHOTO: A Wild Deserts handler with one of the bilbies being reintroduced in their ambitious re-wilding program.
THE clock is being wound back 200 years in the Pilliga, to a time when native animals roamed free of threat from introduced species.
Within three years of the re-wilding project – which aims to reintroduce 10 locally extinct species to NSW national parks – Pilliga has seen promising results.
The Pilliga State Conservation Area is one of three chosen parks that have benefitted from feral-free areas to reintroduce species, as well as Mallee Cliffs National Park and Sturt National Park.
Under the program, the bilby has been able to thrive in the local forest, a miracle given they’ve been extinct in the wild in NSW for more than 100 years.
Vulnerable species are released into the parks in a fenced-off area, safe from the threat of feral animals.
Feral cats and foxes are a huge threat to our native species and are a key driver of high extinction rates, with cats alone responsible for killing 1.5 billion native animals nationally every year.
At the Pilliga State Conservation Area site, the reintroduced population of bridled nailtail wallaby has increased by 350 per cent, and the yellow-footed antechinus abundance is 10 times higher inside the feral predator free area than outside.
There has also been a five-fold increase in the bilby population since 60 founders were reintroduced in late 2018, a dramatic increase from the 155 bilbies that were counted in the end of 2021 survey.
The occupancy of the threatened Pilliga mouse has also proved higher inside the fence than outside.
“It’s incredible to see that in such a short period of time, we’re on track to remove at least 10 animals from the NSW extinct list- the first time this will have happened anywhere in the world,” said Minister for Environment Justin Griffin said.
In addition National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has been undertaking the largest feral animal control program in its history through a range of ground and aerial baiting, trapping and shooting programs.
UNSW Wild Deserts lead Professor Richard Kingsford said it is great to see the whole ecosystem recovering and showing that removal of feral pests can make a real difference.
According to NSW Nationals MLC Scott Barrett some of these programs are conducted with surrounding landowners to ensure a coordinated approach to feral animal control across a wider area, and some are targeted towards specific issues, like protecting the Pilliga Mouse by conducting fox baiting.
“Through the Environmental Trust, the NSW Government has invested an additional $14.6 million, in a feral cat research project with the University of New England, in partnership with NPWS and the Department of Primary Industries,” Mr Barrett said.
“The project is designed to develop and demonstrate new approaches to feral cat management and will include trials of baiting.”
The project is receiving a total investment of over $30 million over 5 years – the largest ever investment by the NSW Government in feral cat research and control.
“This is where we are really starting to see the results of not only the season but the benefits of good management and our collaborations, delivering conservation at scale,” Professor Kingsford said.
“It really does make a difference to actively manage these landscapes and remove feral animals.”
The results are a promising start but unfortunately make little difference into Australia’s infamous reputation, which holds the worst mammal extinction record in the world.