Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary eco survey delivers impressive results for Aussie Ark

Over four nights and five days this month, Aussie Ark has conducted intensive trapping and recording of species found in its Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary – delivering impressive results.

Aussie Ark engaged ecologist Mark Sanders from EcoSmart Ecology, who deployed a range of traps throughout the 400-hectare property. These included: traditional carnivore and herbivore traps baited with delicious food; Elliott traps designed to catch small native rodents; Pitt fall traps using a matrix of trenches, walls and buckets to corral ground dwelling invertebrates such as lizards, frogs and snakes; and aerial traps and sound-recording devices to monitor bats.

Operations Manager Dean Reid directed operations and was astounded by the breadth of life in the Sanctuary, both managed and naturally occurring species.

Reid shared “we caught over 400 Yellow-footed Antechinus. These native marsupials are related to the Tasmanian Devil so are small dasyurids complete with tiny pouches. We also recorded over 50 Tasmanian Devils, 20 Long-nosed potoroos with joeys in pouch, two frog species, three types of reptile, 23 bird species including the vulnerable Masked Owl, three bat species including the Larger Bent-wing Bat which is also classified as vulnerable, and 24 mammal species in total.”

Another exciting discovery was large numbers of Greater Gliders, Sugar Gliders and Ringtail Possums, as well as dozens of Long-nosed Bandicoots which have “exploded in numbers” since feral pests were removed.

Reid said the ecological survey was a huge success, proving yet again how effective the Sanctuary is in offering literal ‘sanctuary’ for dozens of animals otherwise facing extinction.  He personally thanked Aussie Ark’s sponsors and donors, and said he guessed they would be as thrilled as Aussie Ark staff at the amazing “proof of life” existing in the Sanctuary.

More information and to donate at www.aussieark.org.au

Image top: BWS eco survey 2024 Long-nosed potoroo credit: Aussie Ark; Image above: BWS eco survey 2024 antechinus credit: Aussie Ark