Conservation organisations secure bush habitat for proposed Mongo Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Aussie Ark, WildArk, Re:wild and Australian Reptile Park have secured 1,500 hectares of pristine bush habitat in Upper Mongogarie New South Wales for a planned Mongo Valley Wildlife Sanctuary.

The wildlife refuge will be modelled off Aussie Ark’s successful Wildlife Sanctuary creation model started in the Barrington Tops of New South Wales.

The site is located approximately 30 kilometres from the world heritage listed Mallanganee National Park and 70 kilometres from the Richmond Range National Park. The soon to be sanctuary is located within one of the most bio-diverse regions in Australia, reflected by the diversity of vegetation communities which support a range of mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates.

Plans for the property named Mongo Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, include the creation of a feral-free sanctuary fit to host the return of a suite of endangered Australian wildlife.

Tim Faulkner, Aussie Ark President notes “we work within a model of species recovery, the creation of insurance breeding populations, habitat recovery, the protection and restoration of Australian bush and rewilding, the returning of species back to their homes.

“The procurement of Mongo Valley Wildlife Sanctuary and its transformation into a wildlife refuge is just another step in the right direction for Australian wildlife. It offers a huge opportunity for wildlife conservation.”

The Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary has already proven successful, hosting the return of both the Eastern Quoll and Tasmanian Devil – both species have been extinct on the mainland for some time. Since their return the organisation has reported successful wild breeding of both species, proving just how well the model of protected sanctuaries work.

Teams from Aussie Ark, WildArk and the Australian Reptile Park have been busy visiting the site when possible to conduct wildlife surveys, start weed management programs and begin planning for the construction of the feral predator proof fence.

Mark Hutchinson, WildArk founder advised “It’s been wonderful to focus our energy during COVID in our own backyard and help Aussie Ark expand their awesome breeding program with 1,500-hectares of largely intact Australian bush. It’s another step in our partnership and the road to native wildlife recovery on the East Coast.

“We hope that with the amazing support of Re:wild, all our staff, volunteers, ambassadors and donors, we can continue to acquire land for biodiversity and build a chain of wildlife safe havens across Australia.”

With the property purchased and protected, next steps include constructing a feral predator proof fence, and working to rid the site of predators such as the fox and cat. This is critical to the success of the project. Beyond the removal of feral species, the organisations will work to wage a war on invasive noxious weeds and develop fire management actions to help alleviate the threat of intense bushfires.

Don Church, president of Re:wild added “we need to protect wild places and all the species that live within them to effectively combat climate change and the extinction crisis. Mongo Valley is exactly the kind of wildlands we need. Its varied ecology will be able to support native species that will help make Australia more resilient to human-induced climate change and things like bush-fires.”

Mongo Valley Sanctuary holds so much hope for wildlife conservation, its significant biodiversity and ecological value will prove vital in the protection and preservation of Australian wildlife. You can support the Mongo Valley Sanctuary by donating here

More information on Aussie Ark at www.aussieark.org.au; Learn more about Re:wild at rewild.org; Learn more about WildArk at wildark.org. 

Image: Courtesy Aussie Ark