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Threatened animals
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Threatened animals are those animal species considered to be at risk of extinction in the wild on either a National, State or Regional basis. In South Australia, we refer to these species as Endangered, Vulnerable to extinction, or Rare. Threatened animals are subjected to a range of threatening processes. We are working with the community to overcome these threats and help in the recovery of our region's threatened animals. Eighty-eight nationally threatened animal species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 occur in South Australia. This includes 43 mammal, 34 bird, 10 reptile and 1 amphibian species. At a State level, the animal species listed as threatened in South Australia under the National Parks and Wildlife (NP&W) Act 1972 include:
This includes species considered extinct in South Australia, such as the 23 mammal and 2 bird species presumed extinct in the State since European settlement. For more information see the Department for Environment and Heritage Threatened Species web page and the State of the Environment Report for South Australia 2003.
West Region's Threatened AnimalsThe fauna of West Region is unique. The region is where the 'East meets the West' in terms of Australian animals, resulting in a unique mixture of species. West Region is also home to a number of subspecies of animals that are found nowhere else in the world. We call these subspecies 'endemic'. Subspecies that are endemic to Eyre Peninsula and the Far West include:
Unfortunately West Region also has a high number of animal species that are threatened with extinction. On Eyre Peninsula, at least 15 animal species (mammals, birds and reptiles only) are listed as nationally threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. At a State level, 65 animals found on Eyre Peninsula (mammals, birds and reptiles only) are listed under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 as threatened in South Australia. A number of animals are also considered threatened on a regional level. There is still much to learn about the region's native wildlife. Some species that are suspected to have a limited or restricted distribution on Eyre Peninsula, such as the Grey-bellied Dunnart (150Kb PDF), lack a conservation status because of insufficient data. Due to a lack of scientific understanding about insects and other invertebrate species, it is unclear how many of types of invertebrate animals are also threatened, but it could be a significant number. See Threatened Fauna of South Australian 'Department for Environment and Heritage's West Region (350Kb PDF) for a list of threatened animal species found on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West. See the Threatened Animals of Eyre Peninsula and the Far West for a list of selected threatened animals found in our region. See Threatened Animals Eyre Peninsula, South Australia Brochure (1Mb PDF) ThreatsSpecies that are threatened often live in less than ideal situations, where various processes affect their ability to survive and reproduce. The threatening processes affecting the animals of the West Region vary between species and populations, however common threats include:
These threats are not listed in order of importance, because they differ between species and populations.
RecoveryRecovery plans exist for a number of threatened animal species that occur on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West. Some of these plans have been developed at a national level, while others are regionally focussed. The recovery plans outline strategies to prevent each of the species from becoming extinct. The recovery goals are to improve each species' conservation status. For example, to down list the Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren from nationally Vulnerable to extinction, so that the species' long-term survival is improved and the bird is no longer threatened. In West Region we are implementing actions that contribute to a number of recovery plans such as:
Recovery actions aim to:
- controlling weeds - fencing remnant vegetation - revegetating to increase habitat and restore habitat links - prescribed burning to allow for germination and seedling recruitment, and ensure habitats of different age class and structure after fire In West Region, progress is already being made on many of these recovery actions. For examples of this work, see the Threatened Animal Recovery Projects section. Threatened Species UpdatesWe regularly publish Threatened Species Updates to keep interested people up-to-date with threatened animal conservation activities on Eyre Peninsula.
Community InvolvementVolunteers and community groups greatly assist our work and play a key role in threatened animal recovery on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West. Groups that have contributed to the project include:
How You Can HelpEveryone can be involved in helping to save threatened species. If you are interested in volunteering for threatened animal recovery projects on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West, please fill out and submit a Volunteering Form or Contact us for more information.
Please be aware of native animals and help preserve them by:
For other ideas on how you can help protect our natural environment see Green Tips. Potential Research ProjectsStaff from the West Region of the Department for Environment and Heritage and local volunteers are keen to work in partnership with postgraduate students and other groups on research projects aimed at increasing our knowledge about the biology and ecology of threatened animals in our region. See our list of potential research projects. Threatened Animal Recovery ProjectsEyre Peninsula Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo Recovery
Eyre Peninsula's population of Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos are geographically isolated from other Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos, and are considered to be Critically Endangered. We are working with the community to increase and protect habitat for the cockatoos, and to down list the subspecies from Critically Endangered on Eyre Peninsula. Eyre Peninsula Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos are important ambassadors for the habitats in which they breed and feed, particularly Sugar Gum Woodlands. Recovery efforts aimed at conserving the cockatoos also benefit many other species living in these habitats. For more information see:
See Video footage of Eyre Peninsula Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
habitat at Tucknott Scrub Conservation Park recovering after the
fire (4.2Mb file).
Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren Recovery
Listed nationally as Vulnerable to extinction, Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wrens (150Kb PDF) are small, insectivorous birds that are confined to the southern part of the peninsula. Major threats to the birds' survival include bushfire, changed water flows, and loss, degradation and fragmentation of habitat. To overcome these threats, we are implementing recovery actions identified in the Draft Recovery Plan for the Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren Stipiturus malachurus parimeda 2005-2009. The draft recovery plan was written by consultant Marcus Pickett, a flora and fauna specialist, who has conducted surveys and developed habitat management plans for the emu-wrens. Recovery work includes annual surveys at around 50 key Southern Emu-wren sites on southern Eyre Peninsula. Recent surveys have focused on monitoring populations of the bird both in and around the 2005 Black Tuesday fire zone as part of the Lower Eyre Peninsula Bushfire Re-establishment Program. We are also working to increase community engagement in conservation of Southern Emu-wrens. Habitat management guidelines and a habitat re-establishment strategy have been developed for use by land managers and the community. Fencing incentives may be available to land-holders for the protection of Eyre Peninsula Southern Emu-wren habitat such as Melaleuca shrubland, heathland and Gahnia sedgeland. For more information see:
Malleefowl Recovery
We are working with the community and project partners to conserve Malleefowl (150Kb PDF), a unique mound-building bird that is listed nationally as Vulnerable to extinction. Local extinctions of Malleefowl have been widespread on Eyre Peninsula, particularly in the southern agricultural regions where broad scale clearance of native mallee vegetation has occurred. Recovery actions being implemented on Eyre Peninsula to benefit Malleefowl include habitat restoration (eg revegetation to increase and link habitat, and fencing native vegetation to prevent stock grazing), environmental pest management (eg fox baiting), and ongoing monitoring. As part of a reintroduction program, four young Malleefowl were released into Lincoln National Park in 2001. These birds were hatched from eggs collected near Lock in central Eyre Peninsula and raised in captivity. In early 2003, an active mound was discovered - the first recorded breeding event for Malleefowl in Lincoln National Park in more than 25 years. The breeding male was a released bird, but it is suspected that the female may have been an existing, older bird due to the number and size of the eggs discovered in the mound. Malleefowl surveys are undertaken on Eyre Peninsula as part of a national Malleefowl monitoring program. Malleefowl mounds are located and mapped within permanently marked grids, which are surveyed regularly to determine changes in breeding activity over time. We monitor five grids in partnership with the Eyre Peninsula Natural Resources Management Board and community volunteers. These grids have been established in Munyaroo, Pinkawillinie and Hincks conservation parks and in Heritage Agreements near Cowell and Lock. For more information see:
Sandhill Dunnart Recovery
Sandhill Dunnarts (150Kb PDF) were found north of Cowell in 2000, more than 30 years since last being recorded on Eyre Peninsula in 1969. This significant find confirmed the species' distribution in the area, extending its range east. Sandhill Dunnarts are nocturnal, insectivorous marsupials that are listed nationally as Endangered. On Eyre Peninsula they nest in large hummocks of spinifex (Triodia species). A Recovery Plan for the Sandhill Dunnart Sminthopsis psammophila (350Kb PDF) in South Australia is guiding recovery efforts in West Region. Recovery actions include reviewing current, historical and anecdotal Sandhill Dunnart records, and surveying known and potential sites for the species. Sites established during 2000 near Cowell and the Middleback Ranges are being re-surveyed and new survey sites in Munyeroo Conservation Park have been established. This work contributes to our understanding of Sandhill Dunnart habitat use and distribution on Eyre Peninsula. For more information see:
Refuges and Reintroductions
West Region's offshore islands provide important refuges for a number of threatened species. Most of these islands are free from introduced predators such as Foxes and Feral Cats, and direct human impacts are limited. An endemic subspecies of Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus nauticus (listed nationally as Vulnerable to extinction) occurs naturally on East Franklin, West Franklin and St Francis islands in Nuyts Archipelago Conservation Park. Another endemic subspecies, the Black-footed Rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis pearsoni, occurs naturally on Pearson Island. This rock-wallaby has been introduced to other offshore islands and is listed nationally as Vulnerable to extinction. West Region's offshore islands have played a key role in the conservation of threatened animals. For example, Greater Stick-nest Rats became extinct on mainland Australia following European settlement, yet a single population of the rats survived on the Franklin Islands, off the coast of Ceduna. Greater Stick-nest Rats have now been successfully introduced to Reevesby Island in Sir Joseph Banks Group Conservation Park and St Peter Island in Nuyts Archipelago, using the Franklin Islands population as a source of animals. Brush-tailed Bettongs have also been introduced to offshore islands in West Region, including St Peter Island. With appropriate levels of predator control and ecological restoration, mainland locations may also be suitable for reintroductions of threatened animals. Reintroduced populations of Brush-tailed Bettong and Bilby occur in Venus Bay Conservation Park, protected by a predator exclusion fence (see A Refuge for Threatened Species). Brush-tailed Bettongs and Malleefowl (150Kb PDF) have been reintroduced into Lincoln National Park. For more information see:
Monitoring Threatened AnimalsA range of threatened animals is studied as part of ongoing monitoring projects in West Region. We are also initiating new baseline studies to monitor threatened animal species that occur on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West. The purpose of most of our monitoring projects is to determine how successful recovery actions are over time. For example, an increase in a threatened animal population may indicate that recovery actions are having a positive effect, reducing that population's risk of extinction. We are working with the community and project partners on projects to monitor threatened animals including:
See Review of threatened fauna monitoring on Eyre Peninsula report (300Kb PDF).
SchoolsA number of schools have made an important contribution to the recovery of threatened animals on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West. Projects have included:
Green Corps
Several Green Corps teams have been involved in threatened animal conservation activities on Eyre Peninsula including:
- installing corrugated iron tree guards at nest sites (100Kb PDF)(2004) - fencing habitat (100Kb PDF) (2005) Green Corps is an Australian Government youth development and environmental training program for young people aged between 17 and 20 years. Lower Eyre Peninsula Bushfire RecoveryAt least six threatened animal species were impacted by the 2005 Black Tuesday bushfire. The Department for Environment and Heritage has coordinated a scientific program to undertake threatened animal recovery actions as part of the Lower Eyre Peninsula Bushfire Re-establishment Program. See Lower Eyre Peninsula Bushfire Re-establishment Program: Scientific Program.
Threatened Animals of Eyre Peninsula and the Far WestThe following section lists a selection of threatened animal species found in the West Region. More information about some of these species is available by accessing the information sheets, web pages and reports via the links provided. See Threatened Fauna of the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage's West Region (350Kb PDF) for a list of threatened animal species found on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West. For more information about individual nationally threatened animal species, see the Australian Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts Species Profile and Threats (SPRAT) Database. You can search the SPRAT database for a species profile for any nationally threatened animal species. The database provides information on what the species looks like, its population and distribution, habitat, reproduction, taxonomy, and a useful reference list. List of Selected Nationally Threatened Animal Species Found in the West Region
Endangered (Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
Vulnerable (Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
List of Selected State Threatened Animal Species Found in the West RegionEndangered (South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972)
Vulnerable (South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972)
Rare (South Australian National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972)
Other Significant Animal Species Found in the West Region
There are a number of animal species occuring in West Region that, while not listed as threatened, are significant to the area. Some significant animal species found in West Region include:
Little is known about some of these species on Eyre Peninsula and the Far West, and further investigations are needed to more acurately determine the species' distribution and conservation status in the region. One such species is the Grey-bellied Dunnart (150Kb PDF), which was first recorded in South Australia in 2003 on Eyre Peninsula. Before this discovery, it was believed that the species lived only in the south-west of Western Australia. Little is also known about the Eyre Peninsula populations of the Brown Toadlet or Bibron's Toadlet, and the Dinosaur Ant, an insect first recorded in South Australia near Poochera in 1977. Other interesting, but more common species in the region include the Southern Hairy-nosed Wombat and Short-beaked Echidna. Video FootageMore information
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