Mountain pygmy possum captive breeding program

Females will raise up to four young, who will leave the nest one month after they have weened. There are around Mountain Pygmy-possum in the wild.

Their habitat requirements restrict their distribution, meaning numbers cannot significantly increase. Consequently, genetic loss is a key threat to the small populations and the protection of habitat is critical. The annual migration of Bogong Moths represents the second largest energy input into the alps, after the sun and is an important food source for Mountain Pygmy-possums during their breeding season.

An estimated 4. Since very low numbers of Bogong Moths have been migrating to the alps. Agency partners responsible for the management and conservation of Mountain Pygmy-possums are collaborating to collect critical data, undertake predator control, habitat restoration and interventions to help the possums and to understand the causes and impacts of the reduced numbers of Bogong Moths.

Mountain Pygmy-possums rely on a number of food sources other than Bogong Moths and are so far demonstrating their resilience and continuing to recruit at relatively normal levels. DELWP is working with universities to develop population modelling for better decision making and initiating research projects into Bogong Moth ecology.

This is a great example of how working together can achieve great outcomes for threatened species. Since its rediscovery there have been a number of measures taken to help this species. In regard to habitat, these include:. He said many threatened species suffer from genetic distinctiveness and have maladapted populations. Andrew said connectivity is critical in the evolutionary process and lack of connectivity often being a factor relating to threatened species. Andrew provided a brief overview of the issues facing the Mountain Pygmy Possum which has a population of less than The possum's prime habitat occurs in ski resort areas where it hibernates amongst boulders under a cover of snow.

Andrew said studies found there was a high genetic variation between the Southern, Central and Northern populations i. Andrew spoke about the significant decline in the Mt Buller population.

Surveys have been conducted at Mt Buller during the spring on a regular basis since David pointed out the very low numbers of males in the population.

Ski field development has expanded quite considerably since the 's with an incremental loss of Mountain Pygmy Possum habitat. The white line indicates Mountain Pygmy Possum habitat at Mt Buller, the solid yellow lines are ski lifts and the yellow dotted line ski runs. In a recovery plan was put in place by the Mt Buller Management Board which resulted in a number of habitat management projects such as artificial boulderfields to link habitats.

Predator control programs are undertaken seasonally and all ski resort developments must meet environmental standards for the protection of Mountain Pygmy Possum habitat. Due to the continuing decline of the Mt Buller population coupled with studies which revealed an on-going genetic decline at Mt Buller compared with Mt Hotham a genetic rescue plan was implemented.

There has also been an increase in F1 hybrids with more pouch young and F2 females all had 4 pouch young which is the first time this has been observed. Andrew spoke about the measured increase in genetic diversity of the Mt Buller population since wild translocations commenced. He also pointed out the end result of their work was to increase the population size which is now on the rise.

Weeks, A. Translocation strategy for the Mount Buller population of the mountain pygmy possum. Approvals for translocations of wild Mountain Pygmy Possums were possible because of the considerable amount of biological information that had been gathered through research over the years. The expansion of the Mt Buller population to other nearby known habitat could be retarded due to a number of factors; habitat quality may not have recovered from fires, physical distance of km across the summit and predation.

If a functioning population was to be establish in a new area on Mt Buller the most effective means would be to relocate some individuals. The successful genetic rescue of Mountain Pygmy Possums at Mt Buller has paved the way for re-thinking methods of supplementation and building evolutionary resilience particularly in cases where threats are well understood and why populations have decreased.

Establishing new Mountain Pygmy Possum populations on prime habitat beyond the three main areas is not considered in the current recovery plan but something that could be looked at into the future.

There is a view that we may need to be more responsive and less cautious about managing relocations of certain threatened species in the face of climate change as we may not have the time to gather all the data which was required in the past.

High fees associated with gaining Animal Ethics Committee approval can stifle citizen science initiatives. Threatened species can be saved through supplementation in the form of innovative reintroduction to reduce threats, genetic rescue and captive breeding for reintroduction into the wild. Our community can play a vital role in monitoring and supporting supplementation projects. Video conf.

Integrate management of captive and field colonies for the long-term management of the species genetic variation and field fitness. Short-term Objectives: Develop efficient reintroduction techniques. Develop the capacity to maintain pathogen free colonies in field enclosures. Project Duration: Indefinite until such time as the Chytrid Fungus pathogen no longer poses a threat to self sustaining colonies. Reintroduction methodology One of the key goals in undertaking reintroductions is to reduce the level of impact of Chytrid Fungus pathogen by reducing contact between the Southern Corroboree Frog and the Common Eastern Froglet which is a key carrier of the pathogen in the environment where Southern Corroboree Frogs occur.

Management techniques to release Southern Corroboree Frog eggs whilst avoiding contact with the Common Eastern Froglet; Release of into artificial pools within the species former range. Release into artificial pools in areas not occupied by the Common Eastern Froglet. Release eggs and frogs into pathogen free field enclosures. Short-term Objectives: Establish effective techniques for releasing captive bred and reared frogs. Spotted Tree Frog establishment at Mount Kosciuszko.

Long term management perspective David spoke about the significant length of time required to run these types of programs. Overview The Regent Honeyeater is a medium-sized honeyeater of temperate woodlands of south-east Australia.

Bolster the wild population with captive-bred birds until the wild population becomes self-sustaining. Increase understanding of the size, structure and population trends of the wild population of Regent Honeyeaters. Maintain and increase community awareness, understanding and involvement in the recovery program. Captive breeding The captive breeding program commenced in when the wild population was estimated to be around 1, -2, birds.

Genetics Dean spoke about genetic studies from birds captured between and birds captured between and which were collected from NSW, ACT and Victoria. Disease risk assessment Dean spoke about recommendations developed by the recovery team which have been written up in a report 'Regent Honeyeater Disease Risk Analysis, February '.

Key recommendations; A long-term plan to place all Regent Honeyeaters in the release program in permanent quarantine, separate from exotic birds. Place increased resources into health surveillance of the free-living population of Regent Honeyeaters and monitoring the cause of morbidity and mortality.

Complete disease risk analyses for all the hazards identified in Table 2 to provide a comprehensive evidence-basis for all risk management decisions. Captive releases The focus of releases has been in the southern end of the range blue line where the population decline has been greatest. Volunteers Dean stressed the importance of volunteers in undertaking the monitoring of releases.

Monitoring Birds are monitored using colour-band reading and radio tracking using 1. Mycorrhizal fungi obtained by digging in around the root system of the selected orchid species. Mycorrhizal fungi is isolated and grown out to be used in the reproductive process. A Increase font size. The successful experiment could hold wider implications for other isolated threatened species which could be impacted by climate change. With genetic variations detected at an all-time low last October, a decision was made to take drastic action.

A team of scientists and wildlife experts from the DSE, University of Melbourne and Healesville Sanctuary were all involved in the delicate operation and in January discovered the fruits of their efforts. One male was detected and found, through genetic hair testing, to be a result of a Mt Hotham-Mt Buller coupling.

As the possums are often born in litters of four, it is possible more siblings exist. But the experiment also has wider implications for other species.

The aim was to boost the Mt Buller population of mountain pygmy possums back to levels in the next 10 years. Australian Geographic publishes hundreds of photographs a year. Here are our favourites for Wildlife on Kangaroo Island off South Australia is starting to bounce back exactly two years after it was ravaged by the worst bushfires in its history.

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