Project Update: Positive signs from our Kangaroo Island Wilderness Project

It’s now a little over three years since the disastrous bushfires on Kangaroo Island (KI) – fires that were so devastating it was feared many local species were forever lost. You’ll recall that FAME, with your help, lost no time in stepping up and partnering with the Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife (KILFW) organisation to see what could be done.
 
It is very pleasing to bring you some good news based on intensive monitoring and related scientific work that FAME has continued to fund. In summary, the endemic KI Dunnart is alive, active and breeding (two were captured for assessment in December) and another 11 local species at significant risk are also being detected by a combination of monitoring cameras and trapping.  In the five months from October, there were nearly 2000 detections across 30 species.
 
The fire scar across the island was large and recovery for some species will be slow. Continued monitoring and assessment work will be vital in generating a better understanding of the KI wildlife population. For example, a great deal has been learnt about Dunnart activity and its communal living behaviour, information that improves our ongoing response to post-fire recovery. The video below shows a KI Dunnart being released after tracking fitting. The information gained from this will be vital for the longevity of the species.

Footage courtesy of KILFW.

Complacency is not an option – there is still work to be done. Feral predators – cats in particular – remain a significant threat and controlling this aspect of post-fire recovery will be critical in ensuring ultimate and enduring success.
 
Thanks to our community for enabling this very positive update on the KI Wilderness project. For further information on the project, or to make a donation, click on the link below.