SIMON Corbell has announced the start of consultation a new action plan for the endangered brush-tailed rock-wallaby, to better help the species recover from near extinction.

“Action plans protect local species by outlining strategies for their appropriate identification, protection, survival and re-introduction,” Simon said.

“We learned much about the conservation needs of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) while implementing the first plan from 1999 and are now ready to guide further recovery actions with a new plan.

“To ensure the species is around for generations to come, it is important we get this action plan right, and that is why we are asking the community, experts and stakeholders to comment on the draft.”

The brush-tailed rock-wallaby is a medium-sized wallaby with a distinctive dark tail that is usually longer than its head and body. The wallabies inhabit rocky areas with abundant ledges, caves and passageways. Once common and widespread in mountainous south-eastern Australia, they are now only locally common in the north-eastern part of its range in north-eastern NSW.

“The ACT has already contributed greatly to the conservation of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby through a project at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve that successfully bred animals for reintroduction in Victoria and NSW and the action plan envisages this captive breeding program will continue,” Simon said.

“This project also provided an important venue for physiological, behavioural and reproductive research on the wallabies that has provided expertise in the ecology and management of the species.

“Although re-introduction of the species into suitable habitat in the ACT may be possible in the longer term, a significant research effort is required before that can be justified.”

The draft action plan has been prepared under the Nature Conservation Act 1980 and is endorsed by the ACT Flora and Fauna Committee.

For further information or to make a submission on the draft plan visit www.environment.act.gov.au

[“Petrogale penicillata with radio tracking collar – journal.pone.0063017.g001A” by Power ML, Emery S, Gillings MR (2013) – Power ML, Emery S, Gillings MR (2013) Into the Wild: Dissemination of Antibiotic Resistance Determinants via a Species Recovery Program. PLoS ONE 8(5): e63017. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0063017. Licensed under CC BY 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons.]