More steps are being taken to protect the endangered brush-tailed rock wallabies in Warrumbungle National Park.
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An aerial baiting program is being launched next week as part of the Saving Our Species program to reduce the population of foxes threatening the native mammal.
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"Looking after the brush-tailed rock wallaby population in the Warrumbungles has been ongoing for more than 20 years," NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's (NPWS) Adam Fawcett said.
"While not impacted during the recent fires. which hit other colonies across the state, the Warrumbungle population was heavily impacted by the Wambelong Fire in 2013.
"Monitoring conducted over the past 12 months using camera trap images has identified about 12 brush-tailed rock wallabies across the two remaining colonies, including females with pouch young.
"This number gives us an idea of the minimum population and is considered to be an underestimate of the actual number of animals remaining, but shows why it's incredibly important we do all that we can to protect the colonies."
It's incredibly important we do all that we can to protect the colonies.
- Adam Fawcett, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Mr Fawcett said aerial baiting was first introduced in 2018 to allow the NPWS to target a broader area of the park around the remaining brush-tailed rock wallaby colonies, including areas that are difficult to access because of the mountainous terrain.
"Fox predation poses a serious threat to the survival of numerous other local native animal species and the benefits of fox control also extends across tenure to neighboring properties and farms," he said.
"This work compliments targeted pest programs that have been implemented across the park to protect brush-tailed rock wallaby colonies for several years. These include targeting feral goats competing for shelter and food."
The new baiting program will be carried out in the northern parts of the park around and between the extant colonies of the rock-wallaby.
It is supported by Central West Local Land Services and is expected to occur every 6-8 weeks from March through until early November.