We have some wonderful news from the Gawler Ranges, where the reintroduction of the nationally threatened Red-tailed Phascogale is showing very encouraging signs of success.
During monitoring in July, the project team trapped 20 female Red-tailed Phascogales to check their pouches, and counted an incredible 137 babies.
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This is a significant increase on last year’s results and an exciting indication that the animals released into the Gawler Ranges are not only surviving, but breeding and beginning to establish themselves in the wild.
Since the first Red-tailed Phascogales were returned to the Gawler Ranges in May 2024, the project has been steadily working towards one goal: establishing a self-sustaining population in a part of their former range. Monitoring through nest box cameras and checks continues to show encouraging results, with phascogales detected within the new release areas.
The project will now move into an important monitoring phase to see whether this emerging population can continue to grow without further supplementation. Ongoing feral predator control will also remain critical as the population establishes.
And it appears some of these phascogales are already developing a few “street smarts” of their own.
During the recent trapping, Reintroduction Ecologist Tali was repeatedly outsmarted by one particularly elusive female, affectionately dubbed Houdini. Despite appearing consistently on camera traps, Houdini managed to evade every Elliott trap strategically placed around her range. Frustrating for Tali perhaps, but a rather wonderful sign of an animal learning how to navigate life in the wild.
There is still important work ahead, but 137 babies in pouch gives us plenty of reason for optimism that Red-tailed Phascogales are beginning to make the Gawler Ranges home once again.
To find out more, visit the project page
Photo: Shows a female Red-tailed Phascogale with pouch young. (DEW)
Video: Red-tailed Phascogale is releaed into a hollow in the Gawler Ranges. (DEW)
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