Strider     Magazine
 

No 3

 

Bridging the gap 

 
December 2001 

LITTLE RIVER EARTH SANCTUARY – RESTORING NATURE

  Sometime in the not-too-distant future visitors to this sanctuary will be able to experience Victoria as it was in the not-so-distant past.
Imagine taking a stroll through pristine woodlands where wildlife abounds.  Lizards rustle in the leaf litter, birds chatter constantly overhead and, amazingly, an abundance of mammals small and large move amongst a carpet of wildflowers.  Even more surprising is that there is hardly a weed to be found or a single rabbit in sight, and through the trees you can see the Melbourne city skyline…
If you think this sounds like fantasy, some kind of idealistic dream that could never be achieved, then you’re wrong.  What I’m describing is actually the Little River Earth Sanctuary, located at the northern end of the You Yangs less than an hours drive south-west of Melbourne.  While it is still being developed, the sanctuary is planned to be a haven for indigenous species long lost to the region.  Visitors will feel as if they’ve traveled 200 years back in time, surrounded by animals they’ve never even heard of, let alone seen.

Realising a dream – Earth Sanctuaries Ltd.

  Earth Sanctuaries Ltd. Is the brainchild of Dr John Wamsley, a man with a passion for the Australian environment and its unique wildlife.  Seeing as a young boy the devastating effects that introduced predators like cats and foxes can have on native animals, he vowed to restore some of Australia to its former glory.  The inability of government agencies to prevent further losses in habitat and wildlife infuriated Dr Wamsley, so much so that in 1969 he established Warrawong Sanctuary in the Adelaide Hills.  By surrounding the 35 acre property with fox and cat-proof fencing, removing the feral animals trapped inside and replacing the habitats and animals that are native to the area, Dr Wamsley proved what can be done.  By restoring the natural habitat and removing all the feral animals, we can ensure that Australia’s unique wildlife is around for people to enjoy long into the future. 

 
The 1185ha property is located 70km from Melbourne.  Purchased in March 2000, much of the land requires major revegetation work as it was formerly used for cropping and sheep grazing.  Situated in a significant rain shadow – the area only receives 450-500mm of rain annually – the countryside is relatively dry.  Habitats currently under restoration include red soils grasslands, plains grassy woodlands, buloke-grey box woodlands and an extensive koala forest.
Planned for construction at the Little River Sanctuary are a large restaurant, several types of accommodation and a native plant nursery.  The restaurant will seat no fewer than 500 people with a la carte, smorgasbord and café-style dining.  3 tourist villages will be built, accommodating up to 1440 people in 180 separate 2-room buildings.  In addition the sanctuary will offer backpacker-style accommodation in separate buildings which will each sleep 40 people.  3 such buildings are initially planned, with the potential to add up to 8 more later.
The main attraction for visitors to the sanctuary will be the animals.  Guided dawn and dusk walks will provide intimate encounters with species rarely seen in the wild in Victoria, hence the experience will be extremely educational as well as thoroughly enjoyable.  A number of different walking trails, each roughly 1km long, will allow visitors to experience the various habitats present in the sanctuary.  This provides access to all the species present on the property as well as areas such as compounds where intensive breeding programs are carried out.  As well as national visitors, Little River Sanctuary is expected to attract a large number of overseas tourists due to its close proximity to Melbourne and the Tullamarine International Airport.  One species predicted to be a major drawcard is the Koala, known and loved by people from all parts of the globe.  Accordingly a large planting program has been implemented to establish a eucalyptus forest for this adorable species.
In charge of organising the huge volunteer effort that is underway at the sanctuary is the Volunteer Coordinator Melissa Doherty. During the first year of development Melissa has overseen 135 volunteer workdays, with a total of 4,381 people-hours contributed by willing participants.  In conjunction with the planting of roughly 15,000 native seedlings, a huge effort has been undertaken to eradicate weed species.  Serrated Tussock Grass is just one of the species that was widespread and abundant on the property when purchased, and efforts have been concentrated on eliminating this noxious weed.  Other volunteer activities include native seed collection and propagation, fumigation of rabbit warrens, habitat construction and surveying for existing populations of native species.
The entire property has been encircled by a 1.8m high feral-proof fence, and several internal fences subdivide the land into three zones.  The fence is electrified and has several design features that prevent feral animals from climbing or burrowing back into the sanctuary.  The removal of feral cats, foxes and rabbits from within the sanctuary is now well underway.  Native animals will be reintroduced as soon as Zone 1 – the only section of the property not cleared for agriculture – is completely feral-free.

ESL Success Stories.

  While government departments fight to stop the decline in Australia’s native fauna, and mammals in particular, Earth Sanctuaries has been reversing the trend for a number of rare and threatened species.  In total 15 such species are under active management in Sanctuaries, with a number of others existing in natural populations but not actively managed. 

  One tremendous success story is that of the Numbat.  A daytime forager, its range at the time of European settlement spread right across the southern half of Australia.  By the mid 1980s this range had shrunk to just one small area in south-western Australia and only 200 individuals survived, prompting the species to be listed as critically endangered.  In 1993 ESL obtained 15 Numbats from Western Australia.  Thriving in the protected environment at Yookamurra Sanctuary in South Australia, the population now numbers over 200!  Similar initiatives in Western Australia have enabled the nationwide Numbat population to climb to 2000, thus allowing the species’ status to be downgraded to endangered.

  Similarly, the Bridled Nailtail Wallaby has suffered greatly since European settlement.  Once regarded as the most common of the smaller kangaroo species in eastern Australia, today it is restricted to a small area in central Queensland.  With a critically endangered listing, Earth Sanctuaries saw it necessary to establish a breeding population at Scotia Sanctuary in outback New South Wales.  Six individuals were transferred to the sanctuary in 1998 and quickly settled into their new home.  The population has swollen to 68 in just three years, and under current growth rates the species could potentially be removed from the endangered list in five years time!

  The stories for the other species managed are much the same.  ESL has taken the Woylie (Australia’s rarest kangaroo) from 6 to over 200, the Long-nosed Potoroo from 4 to over 100, the Southern Brown Bandicoot from 4 to over 200 and the Sydney sub-species of the Red-necked Pademelon from 2 to over 50 (these are the last surviving individuals of this sub-species).  The Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat population ballooned from 100 individuals in 1999 to 869 in 2000. 

  Efforts are ongoing however, and one recent acquisition is causing a considerable amount of excitement.  Six Mainland Mala were recently transferred to Scotia Sanctuary.  Numbering less than 500 nationally and struggling to survive in the wild, this acquisition couldn’t come at a better time for the species.  All information suggests that this Scotia population will enjoy the same success as those of the species previously mentioned.

The first animals released at the Little River Earth Sanctuary will be translocations from the Warrawong Sanctuary in the Adelaide Hills.  These are the Long-nosed Potoroo, Rufous Bettong and Southern Brown Bandicoot.  Other possible releases in the near future include the Eastern Brush-tailed Bettong, Parma Wallaby, Red-bellied Pademelon and Eastern Barred Bandicoot (pictured right).  The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is one of several species of great significance planned for reintroduction.  It is classified as endangered on the Australian mainland, only surviving in a few managed reserves in south-western Victoria.
The icon animal for the Little River Sanctuary is expected to be the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby.  Also listed as endangered, only a handful of Victorian animals are known to be in existence.  The species inhabits rocky outcrops and cliffs, and could not be released at the sanctuary before major work is completed to restore habitat.  A breeding program for predatory Eastern Quolls (pictured left) will be established several years down the track.  Extinct on mainland Australia, this species was once common throughout Victoria and it will be fantastic to see its return at the sanctuary.
So if you wish to see and learn about the native wildlife that once inhabited the region between Melbourne and Geelong then listen out for the opening of the Little River Earth Sanctuary.  A visit to the sanctuary will amaze and delight you, while at the same time you will be contributing to the preservation and restoration of Victoria’s native fauna.
Contacts:

Little River Earth Sanctuary - (03) 5283 1357

Head Office - (08) 8370 9422

Warrawong Sanctuary - (08) 8370 9197

Yookamurra Sanctuary - (08) 8562 5011

Scotia Sanctuary - (03) 5027 1200

www.esl.com.au