State NRM Project Highlights

Restoring biodiversity to the central wheatbelt

A possum being released after capture by a Narembeen community volunteer during a trapping session monitoring the numbers of woylie, quenda and possum in the Sanctuary. Courtesy Wildlife Research and Management Pty Ltd.

Wadderin Sanctuary is a 430 hectare predator-free area in the central wheatbelt established by the local community of Narembeen.

The sanctuary is being used to reconstruct the pre-European fauna species lost to introduced predators and land-clearing.

Five threatened mammal species and one bird species have been reintroduced. These are the red-tailed phascogale, woylie, quenda, brushtail possum, brush wallaby and curlew.

Wadderin is the only reserve in the central wheatbelt fenced to exclude exotic predators.

This project will contribute towards the following activities:

maintain the site free of foxes and feral cats by regular inspection and maintenance of the barrier fence, as well as baiting for foxes and trapping for feral cats as required
monitoring of reintroduced fauna (trapping at 3-4 month intervals for woylie, quenda, and possum; monitoring of nest boxes for phascogale; monitoring of nocturnal calls for bush stone- curlew; camera traps and spotlighting for brush wallaby) to confirm their establishment and persistence
reintroduce at least one other threatened species. This species is likely to be either the black-flanked rock-wallaby (vulnerable) or the malleefowl (vulnerable)
development of an interpretative sign at the front gate of the sanctuary
extend the benefits to neighbouring remnants and adjoining bushland by adding nest boxes for red-tailed phascogale to adjoining and nearby bushland.

Investment: $ 29 737

Delivery organisation: Wadderin Group
Project duration: January 2013 - December 2013
Location: Narembeen, in the east-central wheatbelt of Western Australia