Western Australia Minister for Environment Bill Marmion

Native Species Thrive At Lorna Glen

Victor P Taffa

Mala and Shark Bay mice have joined the growing number of native species to be reintroduced at Lorna Glen in the northern Goldfields – one of the worlds most extensive and groundbreaking arid zone wildlife reconstruction projects.

The Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) project, Operation Rangelands Restoration, aims to restore 600,000ha of former pastoral lease land purchased by the State Government for conservation at Lorna Glen (Matuwa) and Earaheedy (Kurrara Kurrara) to its natural state by 2020.

Environment Minister Bill Marmion said several native mammals that once occupied the arid zone, but have disappeared since European settlement, had been re-introduced to Lorna Glen in the last three years.

“Boodies and golden bandicoots were released into the 1,100ha predator-proof acclimatisation compound after all feral cats were removed, and bilbies and brushtail possums have been released outside the compound in conjunction with sustained cat baiting.” Mr. Marmion said.

The Minister said 34 mala and 36 Shark Bay mice were trapped at the Montebello islands off the Pilbara coast and introduced into the Lorna Glen compound in June.

“Twelve of the 16 female mala were carrying pouch young and four of the 14 female Shark Bay mice were thought to be pregnant, so we are already seeing the next generation of these species prospering at Lorna Glen.” Mr. Marmion said.

“Sub-fossil records show that both species were present at Lorna Glen before European settlement and their reintroductions are part of the plan to restore fauna that once existed in the area and reinstate ecosystem health.”

Mala are listed as endangered and Shark Bay mice are listed as vulnerable in Western Australia.

Many of the other animals translocated to Lorna Glen originate from Barrow Island, under an offset program managed by DEC and funded by

Chevron as part of the environmental approvals for the Gorgon Joint Venture project.