Progress Report 2004

The first half of 2004 has been a very exciting time at Waterfall Springs. Our Endangered Rock Wallaby breeding programs have commenced and the first joeys are emerging. The final stage of our Kawau Island Brush-Tailed Rock Wallaby Quarantine period has ended initiating vet checks for clearance and transfer to breeding facilities or other institutions. Since their arrival from Kawau Island the Brush-tails have adapted to their new environment with amazing resilience, proven by the emergence of healthy pouch young. Their body condition and coloration has enhanced greatly given the substantial change in their once restricted diet.

Following are notable milestones - in point form to keep this report as brief as possible.

January - Construction of a "Wallaby House", with adjacent fully netted runs completed to provide a breeding facility for the Critically Endangered Victorian (Southern sub species) Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.

January - 3 Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies arrive from Adelaide Zoo to support the surrogate (foster mother) breeding program.

February - first juvenile female Victorian Brush-tailed Rock wallaby arrives to commence the breeding program at WS.

February - First enclosure and habitat for the NSW (Central sub species) Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby is completed.

March - 4 Endangered Central Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies arrive from N.P.W.S. - Jenolan Caves population to commence the breeding program at WS.

May - after 3 separate trapping missions spanning 6 months on Kawau Island NZ, 33 Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies of NSW origin are rescued and repatriated before the wallaby extermination program commenced on the island.

June - Debbie Breen appointed as Park Manager and assumes total responsibility for aspects of Animal Husbandry. Debbie has recruited and trained a dedicated Team of Permanent Volunteer Keepers.

June - 3 Young Yellow -footed Rock Wallabies arrive from Adelaide Zoo to support the surrogate program.

July - Injured (broken arm) and orphaned joey Common Wombat comes into care under our Wildlife Rehabilitation Program.

August - Orphaned male joey Red-necked Pademelon. Joins the Wombat in rehabilitation.

August - Evidence of pouch young in 5 Adult female -Kawau Is. Brush-tailed Wallabies.

October - First Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby joey comes into care to be hand raised after mum threw him during catch up.

October - Emergence of the first Kawau Is BT off spring, a beautifully coloured male.

November - Three new, orphaned joeys join our rehabilitation group, a male Parma Wallaby, a female Swamp Wallaby and a female Red-necked Wallaby.

Acknowledgements:

Donations of Materials and services are critical in minimising the construction and operational costs.

Without the continued support of Corporations we could not succeed with our mission to save endangered species.

We also thank our dedicated Volunteer Keepers, who care meticulously for the precious animals we hold. We thank the Volunteer Trappers who assisted our contracted trapping team on Kawau Island, namely, Zac Gazzard of Thornleigh NSW, Nina Trikojus, German Exchange students - Stephan and Marcos, and Paul (Ditch) Keeling, of Department of Conservation in Warkworth New Zealand. Also the Institutions for sending their representatives:- Adelelaide Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Taronga Zoo.