Thank you

While many Albany residents see Western Ringtail Possums (WRP) regularly in their gardens and sadly on the sides of our road, but don’t know how endangered these critters are and why/if they are surviving here. Since 2016 Oyster Harbour Catchment group has facilitated possum surveys with the help of local volunteers on the Albany mounts and suburbs of Emu Point and Bayonet Head to try to gain a greater understanding and improve local awareness.

Increasing information and awareness is particularly important for the WRP as its critically endangered under State legislation (Wildlife Conservation Act 1950). It has been estimated that the remaining population size in the wild is less than 8,000 mature individuals, with a decreasing trend1. The Recent research predicts there is a 92% likelihood that they will be extinct within 20 years2 if action to protect populations and their habitat isn’t enacted immediately.

Despite growing fears that this south west endemic species could be wiped out. The project’s possum consultant, Sandra Gilfillan, said there seemed to currently be a healthy breeding population in Albany. Together with the help of Department of Biodiversity, Conservations and Attractions (DBCA), Sarah Comer, a comprehensive report investigating the exact abundance, habitat and distribution in Albany. Which is accessible to all on the Oyster Harbour Catchment group website alongside some practical guides for individuals to help conserve this species by making their backyards possum friendly and participate in the citizen science actions.

Luckily for the species Albany has become a stronghold with a healthy, breeding population discovered both on the backyard cameras and during the spotlighting walks with an average of 4 each night. One night a whopping 15 possums were found in a single winter night. Although some females with young were seen on the mounts, they were more often observed on the backyard cameras indicating they are more commonly breeding in backyards. This is particularly encouraging for the local citizen science program on inaturalist app (www.inaturalist.org/places/australia) showing that the population is adapting to urban areas.

This project has kick started research into this population but there is still much to do. If you think you have a possum in your backyard or see them on a walk, please take a photo and upload it to the inaturalist app (www.inaturalist.org) It will even identify the species if you’re not sure. Even dead possums need reporting to the DBCA and remember to check the pouches checked for young.

This project has been supported by funding from the Western Australian Government's State Natural Resource Management Program. There were many other people that helped, from our partners: City of Albany, DBCA, and the University of Western Australia. The South Coast Ringtail Possum Working Group oversaw the project and provided valuable advice and guidance. Stewart Ford and Roy Teal from Biota for support with distance analysis. The many dedicated volunteers and community groups including the Aboriginal Green Army team that were part of our on-ground actions and communications.

  1. Woinarski J.C.Z; Burbidge A.A. and Harrison P.L. (2014). The 2012 action plan for Australian mammals. CSIRO publishing.
  2. Yokochi, K. (2015). A major road and artificial waterway are barriers to the rapidly declining Western Ringtail Possum. School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia.
Publicado el noviembre 18, 2019 06:42 MAÑANA por oysterharbourcatchment oysterharbourcatchment

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