1. The Dingo Project Arid Recovery 31-Jan-2012
2. How to become a scientist Arid Recovery 24-Jan-2012
3. Fire Season Ready Arid Recovery 11-Jan-2012
4. National Bird Day Arid Recovery 05-Jan-2012
5. Seasons Greetings from AR Arid Recovery 19-Dec-2011

 

Arid Recovery now has five times as many non-reintroduced small native mammals inside the reserve compared to the outside. Arid zone trees are long-lived, yet germinate very infrequently.

Our research has also shown that the burrows of re-introduced mammals provide shelter for native animal species and shallow foraging holes dug by bilbies have increased soil carbon levels and germination of native seedlings.

Click here to view a full list of the animal species found at Arid Recovery Reserve.

Greater Stick-nest Rat (Leporillus conditor) 

 

The Greater Stick-nest Rat is a native rodent that was once widespread throughout arid and semi-arid Australia, before becoming extinct on the mainland in the 1930s. Its natural distribution is now limited to just two offshore islands in South Australia and is listed as vulnerable.

True to its name, the Greater Stick-nest Rat builds large nests out of sticks, usually in bushes or under rocky overhangs. Its diet consists of the leaves, seeds and stems of a variety of plants including saltbush and bullock bush, and it is known for its gentle and placid nature. Rat populations are increasing every year inside the Arid recovery Reserve, a fantastic result for this wonderful species.

Burrowing Bettong (Bettongia lesueur)

The Burrowing Bettong is the only member of the kangaroo family that lives underground in a warren. The species is about the size of a rabbit and eats a variety of foods including insects, roots, tubers, green vegetation, fungi and seed.

Burrowing Bettongs once occurred in most of arid southern Australia and on several offshore islands. The species became extinct in mainland Australia in the 1940s and is classified as a vulnerable species by both Australian and world standards.

The success of this trial release led to the release of a further 20 animals in being introduced. The bettong population in the reserve has increased significantly in the reserve over recent years and is estimated to be more than 1000 individuals.

Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis)

The Greater Bilby is a large, burrowing, nocturnal bandicoot. It digs extensively for the seeds, bulbs and invertebrates that constitute its diet.

The Greater Bilby has declined since European settlement, and although still found in the arid interior of the Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland, the species has undergone a more than 80% reduction in its range.

Reintroductions into Arid Recovery represents the first time bilbies have been present in the South Australian arid zone since their local extinction in the 1930s.

Greater Bilby abundance continues to fluctuate within the reserve in response to seasonal and local conditions.

Western Barred Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville)

The Western Barred Bandicoot is the smallest of the bandicoots. The species is listed as endangered with less than 3000 remaining in the wild. Once widespread across arid southern Australia, it is now extinct in mainland Australia.

A trail release of 11 animals represented the first reintroduction of Western Barred Bandicoots outside of Western Australia. Bandicoots now occur if high numbers throughout many areas of the reserve.

Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)

The species has apparently been extinct in South Australia since the 1940’s. Numbats were trial 

released into Arid Recovery in 2005 making it the first arid reintroduction site in Australia. Following the trial release of five numbats, animals were monitored using radio-tracking technology. Although both females were carrying pouch young a few months later, native birds of prey preyed on three individuals within 5 months of release. Both of the surviving males were still alive after 18 months and one has survived for 3 years since its release.

Woma Python (Aspidites ramsayi)

Womas used to be a key native predator throughout much of outback Australia, but have now declined within much of their former range.

The reintroduction of 9 captive-bred sub-adult snakes was the first time a native predator had been reintroduced into the reserve. Unfortunately all of the woma pythons were killed and/or eaten by local native mulga snakes within a few months of release. This result was surprising and suggests that native faunal patterns and interactions prior to European settlement may have been more complicated that previously thought.