Published Friday, 09 May, 2008 at 11:30 AM
Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation
The Honourable Andrew McNamara
Mining Leader Digs Deep for Endangered Wombats
A multi-million dollar partnership between the Queensland Government and mining giant, Xstrata, has improved the chances of saving the world’s last colony of endangered northern hairy-nosed wombats in central Queensland.
The three-year, $3 million partnership will help establish a satellite population of the species near St George in south west Queensland.
Announcing the partnership today, Minister for Climate Change, Sustainability and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said scientists could now build on knowledge gained from the Environmental Protection Agency’s protected wombat colony at Epping Forest National Park near Clermont in central Queensland.
“We will move a small number of northern hairy-nosed wombats 600 kilometres south to near St George to establish the first ‘off park’ colony,” Mr McNamara said.
“The EPA located the suitable site after a two-year search across central and southern Queensland using satellite imagery, soil, landform and regional ecosystem mapping, and site visits for vegetation and soil testing.”
“Only about 115 northern hairy-nosed wombats survive today.
“This species is more endangered than the Sumatran Tiger, Central Africa’s Mountain Gorilla, and China’s Giant Panda and only found on a small area the size of Brisbane’s CBD within Epping Forest National Park.
“The reintroduction project is aimed at establishing a new population away from Epping Forest in case of an extreme event like fire, disease or severe weather change caused by climate change eliminates the entire species.”
Mr McNamara said that establishing the second colony isn’t without risk.
“Moving home is highly stressful, even for humans,” Mr McNamara said.
“We are effectively moving the wombats to another country to re-establish themselves, which could be quite stressful.
“Every effort will be made to keep stress to a minimum, and the EPA has the world’s foremost northern hairy-nosed wombat experts overseeing the project.
“We can’t guarantee that the animals will react well to their changed environment but there is a greater risk for the species if we don’t establish a second colony.”
Mr McNamara congratulated Xstrata for its support of such a unique species.
He also praised the support of landholders Ed and Gabi Underwood for registering part of their property as a nature refuge to protect the wombats.
“The declaration of a nature refuge over part of their property will secure a second home for the northern hairy-nosed wombat in perpetuity.
"The nature refuge has the right soils, vegetation and landscape to support a viable wombat population.
“It’s exciting to see rural landholders entering into conservation agreements with the Queensland Government to do their bit for such a unique animal.”
Mr McNamara said the northern hairy -nosed wombat reintroduction project is expected to take three years.
He said that, if this relocation is successful, the Queensland Government would be looking to establish more separate colonies at diverse locations across the mammal’s historic Queensland habitat.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004
The three-year, $3 million partnership will help establish a satellite population of the species near St George in south west Queensland.
Announcing the partnership today, Minister for Climate Change, Sustainability and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, said scientists could now build on knowledge gained from the Environmental Protection Agency’s protected wombat colony at Epping Forest National Park near Clermont in central Queensland.
“We will move a small number of northern hairy-nosed wombats 600 kilometres south to near St George to establish the first ‘off park’ colony,” Mr McNamara said.
“The EPA located the suitable site after a two-year search across central and southern Queensland using satellite imagery, soil, landform and regional ecosystem mapping, and site visits for vegetation and soil testing.”
“Only about 115 northern hairy-nosed wombats survive today.
“This species is more endangered than the Sumatran Tiger, Central Africa’s Mountain Gorilla, and China’s Giant Panda and only found on a small area the size of Brisbane’s CBD within Epping Forest National Park.
“The reintroduction project is aimed at establishing a new population away from Epping Forest in case of an extreme event like fire, disease or severe weather change caused by climate change eliminates the entire species.”
Mr McNamara said that establishing the second colony isn’t without risk.
“Moving home is highly stressful, even for humans,” Mr McNamara said.
“We are effectively moving the wombats to another country to re-establish themselves, which could be quite stressful.
“Every effort will be made to keep stress to a minimum, and the EPA has the world’s foremost northern hairy-nosed wombat experts overseeing the project.
“We can’t guarantee that the animals will react well to their changed environment but there is a greater risk for the species if we don’t establish a second colony.”
Mr McNamara congratulated Xstrata for its support of such a unique species.
He also praised the support of landholders Ed and Gabi Underwood for registering part of their property as a nature refuge to protect the wombats.
“The declaration of a nature refuge over part of their property will secure a second home for the northern hairy-nosed wombat in perpetuity.
"The nature refuge has the right soils, vegetation and landscape to support a viable wombat population.
“It’s exciting to see rural landholders entering into conservation agreements with the Queensland Government to do their bit for such a unique animal.”
Mr McNamara said the northern hairy -nosed wombat reintroduction project is expected to take three years.
He said that, if this relocation is successful, the Queensland Government would be looking to establish more separate colonies at diverse locations across the mammal’s historic Queensland habitat.
Media contact: Peter McCarthy 3336 8004