Friends of Parks partnership for Central Queensland
Published Friday, 06 July, 2012 at 07:00 AM
Minister for National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing
The Honourable Steve Dickson
A central Queensland national park is set to become more environmentally sustainable with the first Newman Government Friends of Parks volunteer partnership kicking off this week.
National Parks Minister Steve Dickson said the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) would partner with Wildlife Queensland at Taunton National Park (Scientific) to focus on wildlife conservation.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for environmentally-minded volunteers to get involved in the enhanced management of Taunton National Park, home to the endangered bridled nailtail wallaby,” Mr Dickson said.
“Volunteers will help monitor the population of the bridled naitails as well as remove weeds, revegetate and survey plants and animals.
“This project is of huge environmental importance to Queensland, as the bridled nailtails at Taunton are the only animals of their kind remaining in the wild.”
Mr Dickson said QPWS would host a welcome visit by Wildlife Queensland on July 6-7 to run a presentation on bridled nailtails and lead a tour of wallaby habitats within the park.
Wildlife Queensland spokesperson Des Boyland said Wildlife Queensland welcomed the opportunity to form a partnership with QPWS.
“This is a chance to work together with QPWS rangers for the sustainability of the park and for the bridled nailtail wallaby, so it’s a win-win from our perspective,” Mr Boyland said.
“This partnership is a first for Wildlife Queensland. We look forward to providing voluntary assistance and funding to further enhance the much-needed ongoing research for the protection of this endangered species and its habitat.”
Mr Boyland said the Wildlife Queensland group would also visit Albinia Conservation Park and Blackdown Tableland National Park during its study tour.
Bridled nailtail wallabies were rediscovered at Taunton in the 1970s after being thought extinct and the property later became a national park (scientific), which means the park is inaccessible to the general public to preserve endangered species.
As part of the recovery strategy for this species, QPWS has established free-ranging populations at Avocet Nature Refuge near Springsure and Idalia National Park near Blackall. A small captive breeding population also exists on a property at Marlborough.
[Ends] July 5, 2012 Media Contact: Anna Hilton 0408 191 192
NB: Photos of bridled nailtail wallabies are also available.
National Parks Minister Steve Dickson said the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) would partner with Wildlife Queensland at Taunton National Park (Scientific) to focus on wildlife conservation.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for environmentally-minded volunteers to get involved in the enhanced management of Taunton National Park, home to the endangered bridled nailtail wallaby,” Mr Dickson said.
“Volunteers will help monitor the population of the bridled naitails as well as remove weeds, revegetate and survey plants and animals.
“This project is of huge environmental importance to Queensland, as the bridled nailtails at Taunton are the only animals of their kind remaining in the wild.”
Mr Dickson said QPWS would host a welcome visit by Wildlife Queensland on July 6-7 to run a presentation on bridled nailtails and lead a tour of wallaby habitats within the park.
Wildlife Queensland spokesperson Des Boyland said Wildlife Queensland welcomed the opportunity to form a partnership with QPWS.
“This is a chance to work together with QPWS rangers for the sustainability of the park and for the bridled nailtail wallaby, so it’s a win-win from our perspective,” Mr Boyland said.
“This partnership is a first for Wildlife Queensland. We look forward to providing voluntary assistance and funding to further enhance the much-needed ongoing research for the protection of this endangered species and its habitat.”
Mr Boyland said the Wildlife Queensland group would also visit Albinia Conservation Park and Blackdown Tableland National Park during its study tour.
Bridled nailtail wallabies were rediscovered at Taunton in the 1970s after being thought extinct and the property later became a national park (scientific), which means the park is inaccessible to the general public to preserve endangered species.
As part of the recovery strategy for this species, QPWS has established free-ranging populations at Avocet Nature Refuge near Springsure and Idalia National Park near Blackall. A small captive breeding population also exists on a property at Marlborough.
[Ends] July 5, 2012 Media Contact: Anna Hilton 0408 191 192
NB: Photos of bridled nailtail wallabies are also available.