LOCAL FIGHT TO SAVE THE BRUSH-TAILED ROCK-WALLABY TAKES TO THE SKY

On Tuesday a group of 23 endangered brush-tailed rock-wallabies (including eight with pouch young), were airlifted by helicopter from Waterfall Springs Wildlife Sanctuary at Kulnura on the NSW Central Coast to be released on a mountain summit in the Warrumbungle National Park in the States mid-west.

The brush-tailed rock-wallabies were all donated by Waterfalls Springs Wildlife Sanctuary, as part of Australia’s biggest ever translocation of the brush-tail rock-wallaby.

The brush-tailed rock-wallaby was once common and widespread in rocky habits throughout south-eastern Australia from Queensland to Victoria. In the last 200 years their numbers have plummeted, with declines most dramatic in Victoria and in southern and western NSW.
Over recent years the once strong Warrumbungle’s colony has declined in number to less than eight prompting this radical action to save it from extinction.

For the independently owned and funded Waterfall Springs Wildlife Sanctuary the translocation marks a milestone in a six year journey that started in 2003 with the commencement of the NSW captive breeding program for the brush-tailed rock-wallaby.

This large scale release unites Waterfall Springs with WWF Australia, NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) in a common goal – to pull the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, listed as endangered in NSW back from the brink of extinction. It has been a highly intensive conservation mission which has required extensive scientific, veterinary and environmental expertise to prepare the brush-tail rock-wallabies for release as well as significant government investment to prepare the wallaby’s new environment.

All of the released brush-tail rock-wallabies will be fitted with radio collars so their movement can be monitored and infrared cameras will record the images of the residents deep in the rocky terrain of the Warrumbungle National Park.

Since its establishment Waterfalls Springs Wildlife Sanctuary has played a vital lead role in the brush-tailed rock-wallaby captive breeding program and continues to invest significant private funds and volunteer resources into constructing and maintaining purpose built enclosures at its Kulnura sanctuary.

A key component to the success of the Waterfall Springs brush-tailed rock-wallaby captive breeding program has been the development of purpose built, predator free enclosures to replicate the natural brush-tailed rock-wallaby habitat.

In November 2008 Waterfalls Springs Wildlife Sanctuary was involved in a release of brush-tailed rock-wallabies into Victoria’s Grampians National Park and is continuing its successful captive breeding program aimed at bringing the brush-tailed rock-wallaby back from the extinction vortex.
Waterfall Springs is a private non for profit organisation and foundation which is funded by members of the public and corporate sponsors and relies heavily on the support of local volunteers.
Further information on the project or to learn how you can adopt a wallaby hop to www.waterfallsprings.com.au

Media Contact:
Karen O’Mara Communications Manager, 0415 326 762 karen@waterfallsprings.org