Kate D's Blog

Kate D's Blog
Tuesday, 21 October 2008 - Threatened Species: Threatened Habitat - The Bilby : The Greater bilby is an Australian mammal and is listed as threatened to endangered. They prefer to live in arid or semi arid areas and their habitat once covered more than 2/3 of Australia. Sadly, their population has drastically decreased, with only 20% of their original habitat remaining, shown on the map on the right. The main reason for their decline is introduced species; mainly cats, foxes and rabbits, but also livestock. The foxes and cats both prey on the small and relatively defenceless bilby and the livestock and rabbits compete with them for food and habitat. There used to be two species of bilby inhabiting Australia, the Greater and Lesser bilbies, but the introduction of these foreign species has already made the Lesser bilby extinct. Breeding programs and releases on the Shark Bay peninsula have helped increase the bilby populations, and a fox and cat proof fence (known as the feral-proof fence) has been created to protect the remaining bilbies and their newly released counterparts. To prevent the introduced species from entering this area, the fence extends several meters out to sea and underground, Though a few feral animals still remain on the protected side, the native animals are much more protected and have a better chance of survival. Western Australia also has several other breeding programs around the state, including one on the outskirts of Perth. In other states, efforts have been made to reintroduce bilbies into areas in South Australia and Queensland; the latter also creating a feral-free zone where they can live relatively unharmed. South Australia has employed effective breeding programs on an island free of introduced species and is now trying to reintroduce them into the mainland. So far, the results are looking promising, with the mainland colonies surviving well and the prospect of a few other release sights on the horizon. As well as breeding and release programs, the conservation of bilbies also includes sustaining their habitats and observing the wild populations, ensuring that the bilby will survive well into the future. These actions have impacted on many species other than the bilby, through preventing feral animals in certain areas so that not only bilbies, but other native animals at risk can also build up their populations again. Of course, this means that a food source for these introduced animals is denied and that land has to be set aside for these conservation areas that would have previously been used for farmland. The feral-proof areas also prevent the bilbies and other native animals from spreading out as well as protecting them, although some are released over time. These conservation areas also, while attracting tourists (in the case of the Shark Bay area), promote the bilby, making people more aware of its plight and the need to conserve these creatures. The land that would have had to have been set aside for the bilbies in the less remote areas (once again in the case of Shark Bay) could have been instead used for agriculture, which would have destroyed more of their habitat. Thankfully, conservation has won out and areas of land are dedicated to the restoration of this species. I think that what is being done so far to protect and restore the bilbies is a great start, but it would help if more people were aware of their plight. More extensive areas could be devoted to their conservation, with safe havens free of feral animals to begin the reintroduction process. It is good to see that at least a few bilbies have been reintroduced to South Australia, where they were previously extinct. Hopefully this will continue into the future and eventually, the bilby will have regained at least most of its former numbers. References http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/bilby.html http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/bilby.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilby http://www.sharkbay.org/default.aspx?WebPageID=200 Labels: School K.D. blogged at 12:43 pm
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Tuesday, 21 October 2008 - Threatened Species: Threatened Habitat - The Bilby :

The Greater bilby is an Australian mammal and is listed as threatened to endangered. They prefer to live in arid or semi arid areas and their habitat once covered more than 2/3 of Australia. Sadly, their population has drastically decreased, with only 20% of their original habitat remaining, shown on the map on the right.

The main reason for their decline is introduced species; mainly cats, foxes and rabbits, but also livestock. The foxes and cats both prey on the small and relatively defenceless bilby and the livestock and rabbits compete with them for food and habitat. There used to be two species of bilby inhabiting Australia, the Greater and Lesser bilbies, but the introduction of these foreign species has already made the Lesser bilby extinct.

Breeding programs and releases on the Shark Bay peninsula have helped increase the bilby populations, and a fox and cat proof fence (known as the feral-proof fence) has been created to protect the remaining bilbies and their newly released counterparts. To prevent the introduced species from entering this area, the fence extends several meters out to sea and underground, Though a few feral animals still remain on the protected side, the native animals are much more protected and have a better chance of survival. Western Australia also has several other breeding programs around the state, including one on the outskirts of Perth. In other states, efforts have been made to reintroduce bilbies into areas in South Australia and Queensland; the latter also creating a feral-free zone where they can live relatively unharmed. South Australia has employed effective breeding programs on an island free of introduced species and is now trying to reintroduce them into the mainland. So far, the results are looking promising, with the mainland colonies surviving well and the prospect of a few other release sights on the horizon. As well as breeding and release programs, the conservation of bilbies also includes sustaining their habitats and observing the wild populations, ensuring that the bilby will survive well into the future.

These actions have impacted on many species other than the bilby, through preventing feral animals in certain areas so that not only bilbies, but other native animals at risk can also build up their populations again. Of course, this means that a food source for these introduced animals is denied and that land has to be set aside for these conservation areas that would have previously been used for farmland. The feral-proof areas also prevent the bilbies and other native animals from spreading out as well as protecting them, although some are released over time. These conservation areas also, while attracting tourists (in the case of the Shark Bay area), promote the bilby, making people more aware of its plight and the need to conserve these creatures.

The land that would have had to have been set aside for the bilbies in the less remote areas (once again in the case of Shark Bay) could have been instead used for agriculture, which would have destroyed more of their habitat. Thankfully, conservation has won out and areas of land are dedicated to the restoration of this species.

I think that what is being done so far to protect and restore the bilbies is a great start, but it would help if more people were aware of their plight. More extensive areas could be devoted to their conservation, with safe havens free of feral animals to begin the reintroduction process. It is good to see that at least a few bilbies have been reintroduced to South Australia, where they were previously extinct. Hopefully this will continue into the future and eventually, the bilby will have regained at least most of its former numbers.

References

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/biodiversity/bilby.html

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/bilby.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilby

http://www.sharkbay.org/default.aspx?WebPageID=200

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K.D. blogged at 12:43 pm

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