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Little wally is key to survival of the species
The Daily Telegraph, Edition 8 - Central Coast Extra
THU 24 JAN 2008, Page 015
By: STEPHANIE WILSON
THIS little fellow might not know it yet but he is one of the keys to the survival of his species.
The tiny and rare brush-tailed rock wallaby is one of the products of a captive breeding program at Waterfall Springs Wildlife Sanctuary at Kulnura.
January 22, 2008: Central Coast, NSW. A baby male brush-tailed rock wallaby joey bred at Waterfall Springs Wildlife Sanctuary at Kulnura on Central Coast, which is running a breeding program to save the rare species. Pic. Graham Gary
Published: The Daily Telegraph - January 24, 2008
© Newspix / News Ltd / 3rd Party Managed Reproduction & Supply Rights
Started by Lloyd Oldfield on his 13ha property in 2003, the unique private sanctuary runs breeding programs aimed at saving two sub-groups of wallabies -- the endangered central form, and the even rarer southern form, which is found only in Victoria.
Sanctuary manager Celia Thomson said the sanctuary began with the rescue of 33 introduced wallabies from Kawau Island in New Zealand that were facing being killed because they were a threat to native wildlife.
It is now home to about 90 wallabies and has already had one major success, last year producing its first two southern type joeys -- also the first born in NSW.
"Our two joeys that were born here last year were actually number 99 and 100 in the recovery in that species which is pretty exciting because it was only a few years ago that they were down to nothing," Mrs Thompson said.
While one died, the sanctuary is now excited by the prospect that the surviving female joey is being considered for eventual release into the wild somewhere near the Grampians, in Victoria.
Other wallabies from the program have been sent to other sanctuaries across the country and some will eventually be released into the wild, Mrs Thomson said.
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