FAME in partnership with the Australian Reptile Park (ARP) and Zoos and Aquaria of Australasia is supporting the Devil Ark project, a breeding programme for the endangered Tasmanian Devil on mainland Australia, in the Barrington Tops region of NSW. Devil Ark is an important component of the mainland insurance population strategy of the Tasmanian Government’s 'Save the Tasmanian Devil Program'.

Australia's largest living marsupial carnivore, the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is a nationally listed endangered species that is facing extinction in the wild. Since the mid-90's sightings of Devils in the wild have declined by more than 80%.

The culprit is the devastating Devil Facial Tumour disease. This disease – a unique form of cancer –is now present across more than two thirds of Tasmania.

51 healthy Devils were established in early 2011 and Devil Ark aims to have a population of 100 animals by the end of the year, including a good crop of Devil joeys born to breeding females.

FAME is collaborating with Sydney University and others on a five-year project to stop the spread of the introduced cane toad on its southern front. The cane toad has a very destructive effect on a number of wildlife species (most noticeable so far on the northern front) and may drive some species to extinction if not controlled.

FAME is supporting Wildlife Queensland's program to provide food and shelter for the Mahogany Glider in the wake of Cyclone Yasi. This program will continue until the area has recovered enough to allow the Gliders to support themselves.

Before Cyclone Yasi hit Far North Queensland it was estimated that there were fewer than 2000 mahogany gliders left in the wild. Recent aerial surveys have indicated extensive wind damage to the mahogany gliders' habitat and there is little doubt that the gliders are under increased stress as a result.

FAME, Mt Rothwell and the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment are collaborating on a three year project to

• Increase the population of the endangered Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby
• Improve the recovery of the endangered Eastern Quoll.
• Improve management of Victoria’s endangered remnant basalt grasslands
• Increase community awareness, skills and involvement in local conservation activities.

FAME is supporting a project to further investigate the role of the Dingo in supporting ecosystem health and biodiversity in the Australian landscape.

International studies show that ecosystems function more effectively if a major predator is present. On much of mainland Australia the Dingo still fills the role of major predator. There is evidence that when dingos are present the numbers and impact of feral animals are reduced, native biodiversity increases and native vegetation regenerates.

FAME is partnering with the community of Narembeen to provide ongoing support for a project to restore a suite of endangered mammals to the safety of Wadderin Sanctuary. Located in the central wheat belt of Western Australia, Wadderin Sancutary is a 520 hectare feral-free reserve.

The first of these species, the Red-tailed Phascogale, was reintroduced in April 2009 with funding from FAME. Other species such as the Woylie and Brush-tailed possum have also been reintroduced. Reintroductions of Western Brush Wallaby and Malleefowl will be made through 2011 and likely Tammar Wallabies in 2012.

FAME is supporting the ongoing breeding and educational program at two schools in the south east of South Australia. The aim is to produce juvenile Yarra Pygmy Perch for release back into the wild at suitable locations.

Native fish are ideal indicators of the health of our freshwater environment as they rely on the amount and quality of water, the types of habitat present and on other biological processes within complex food chains or ecosystems. They are also a key component of aquatic biodiversity with many uniquely adapted and interesting species.

Unfortunately many native fish including the Yarra Pygmy Perch are threatened in South Australia (over half the known species). In response to the extremely dry weather conditions of 2008, the Department of Environment and Heritage took the drastic step of rescuing threatened populations of Yarra Pygmy Perch from the wild and placing them into captive maintenance at the Kingston Community School aquaculture centre. This breeding program was so successful that it has now been expanded, with Millicent High School now housing a second population of Yarra Pygmy Perch.

FAME is working with Landscape Partnerships to develop a 5 year project to return the Western Quoll to the wild in South Australia.

Fox-baiting in the Flinders Ranges National Park has been successful in reducing fox numbers and relieving the pressure on endangered species such as the Yellow-footed Rock Wallaby. Unfortunately, lower numbers of foxes also means an increase in rabbit numbers in these areas. It has been shown that even at low numbers rabbits can effectively prevent the regeneration of native vegetation.

The Western Quoll has been extinct in South Australia since the 19th century. Top order native predators like the Western Quoll are a critical component of healthy ecosystems. It is anticipated that the return of the Western Quoll to Flinders Ranges National Park will help restore ecosystems function in the Flinders Ranges with three major benefits:

• Restore an important natural predator to the species mix of arid and semi-arid SA
• Reduce rabbit numbers in inaccessible areas
• Reduction of rabbits will allow regeneration of native vegetation, with flow-on benefits for other native species.

Year 1 of this project will occur in 2011/12. Initially, a small number of Western Quolls will be established in the Flinders Ranges National Park and a control group in the Arid Recovery Zone at Roxby Downs. More quolls will be released as soon as the trial population is established.