2014-19 zoos victoria wildlife conservation master plan · zoos victoria wildlife conservation...

2014-19ZOOS VICTORIA

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MASTER PLAN

A WORLD LEADING ZOO-BASED CONSERVATION ORGANISATION

CONTENTS

Our Mission 03

About Zoos Victoria 04

Introduction 05

Fighting Extinction Commitment 06

Projects 09

Partners 10

Mammals 11

Eastern Barred Bandicoot 12

Mountain Pygmy-possum 13

Tasmanian Devil 14

Smoky Mouse 15

Leadbeater’s Possum and Helmeted Honeyeater 17

New Holland Mouse 18

Fighting Extinction Dog Squad 19

Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby 20

Eastern Quoll 21

Southern Bent-wing Bat 22

Birds 23

Regent Honeyeater 24

Orange-bellied Parrot 26

Amphibians and Reptiles 29

Southern Corroboree Frog 30

Northern Corroboree Frog 31

Baw Baw Frog 32

Spotted Tree Frog 33

Grassland Earless Dragon and Stuttering Frog 35

World Class Amphibian Centre 36

Guthega Skink and Alpine She-oak Skink 37

Insects 38

Lord Howe Island Stick Insect 39

Cryopreservation 41

Melbourne Zoo Nocturnal House 42

International Conservation Commitment 43

Philippine Crocodile 44

Grevy’s Zebra 45

Project Timelines 46

2 ZOOS VICTORIA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MASTER PLAN 2014 – 19

ZOOS VICTORIA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MASTER PLAN 2014 – 19 3

ZOOS VICTORIA IS COMMITTED TO FIghTINg ExTINCTION. OuR gOAL IS TO bE ThE WORLD’S LEADINg ZOO-bASED CONSERVATION ORgANISATION. Put simply, we strongly believe that the extinction of species should not be tolerated. Not now, not ever. Zoos Victoria works locally and globally to deliver conservation outcomes. We are committed to the recovery of 20 native threatened species all of which require urgent conservation intervention. We’ve promised that no Victorian terrestrial vertebrate species will go extinct on our watch. This is an enormous but necessary undertaking and will require Zoos Victoria to work through strategic partnerships whilst mobilising community support.

Zoos Victoria works with international conservation partners across the bio-regions represented by our three great zoos. Through these partnerships we are able to deliver tangible benefits to both people and wildlife. Our international conservation efforts see us fighting the extinction of some of our world’s most critically endangered species within the Philippines, northern Kenya and Papua New Guinea.

Each year we deliver an International Conservation Grants Program to boost conservation capacity within selected biodiversity hot-spots around the world and we facilitate more than 50 research projects each year to support evidence-based conservation. We invite you to join us in our efforts to fight extinction and secure a species rich future.

AbOuT ZOOS VICTORIA

ZOOS VICTORIA IS A NOT FOR PROFIT, ZOO-bASED CONSERVATION ORgANISATION, DELIVERINg CONSERVATION OuTCOMES ThROugh ThE WORk ThAT WE DO AT OuR ThREE gREAT ZOOS. Zoos Victoria is established through the Zoological Parks and Gardens Act 1995 and has responsibility for the Royal Melbourne Zoological Garden, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo. The Act, in brief, mandates the organisation to:

+ Conserve, protect, manage and improve the zoos and their assets

+ Promote and increase public enjoyment of the zoos and their assets

+ Increase public knowledge / awareness of the zoos through exhibition, publications, educational programs, advisory services and other activities

+ Carry out and promote zoological research and conservation of wildlife and its natural habitats and the maintenance of biodiversity

+ Provide consultancy and advice services to the public on zoological matters.

As a statutory entity, Zoos Victoria takes leadership from the Minister for Environment and Climate Change. We work with the Minister and his Department to explore solutions for much needed capital upgrades and recurrent funding that allows delivery of improved conservation outcomes and gains in biodiversity.

We prioritise Fighting Extinction locally and achieve this by applying our specialised skills in the captive holding and management of threatened species, working closely with partners to ensure success in the wild and utilising our unique position to influence behaviour changes within communities in support of wild populations and habitats.

As a not-for-profit organisation Zoos Victoria currently invests $3.5 million per annum across 20 priority species. This investment allows for captive breeding of 15 of the 20 `native threatened species, and supports small-scale releases of up to six species per annum. However at present, this annual investment at its best prevents extinction and does not recover species. Further investment and development of strategic partnerships provide an opportunity to recover species in the wild and improve their current conservation status.

Zoos Victoria raises more than 70 per cent of the operating budget through zoo-based activities including admissions, commercial sales, corporate sponsorships and philanthropic donations. Over the next five years we will be making a considerable effort to increase our financial sustainability across all of our income lines. This will enable excellence to deliver upon our conservation ambitions.



INTRODuCTION

Zoos Victoria has reached a very exciting time in our transition to become the world’s leading zoo-based conservation organisation. We have invested in our people to a point where we are now recognised as leading experts in reproductive biology, species management, science communication, animal behaviour and species reintroduction and monitoring. We run and deliver more captive breeding and recovery programs than any other institution within Australia and have a workforce that is incredibly passionate and committed to Fighting Extinction. We have proven that whilst looking after the species at your doorstep, regardless of their shape, colour and size we can increase our brand appeal, generate community pride, mobilise conservation action and cater for more than two million people visiting our three great zoos, all within the same year. In addition to this, our membership base continues to grow, with more than 147,000 members continuing to learn about wildlife once they leave our gates. Finally, we have developed the necessary plans and secured the partners needed to take our efforts from one that prevents the extinction of species to one that recovers species in the wild.

The time has come for Zoos Victoria to take some significant strides forward in Fighting Extinction. This will require substantial financial investment over a dedicated period of time.

Despite all of our work to date, the threat of extinction continues to loom over many species and remains a very real and imminent threat that requires an urgent response. Now is the time to be brave, innovative and focused. In order to secure a future for the species that we have grown to admire, respect and deeply value, we need to implement this Master Plan and help our community ‘love your locals’.

The Wildlife Conservation and Science Team recognise that our capacity to deliver conservation outcomes is directly linked to Zoos Victoria’s financial health. We are grateful for all that has been done to help Zoos Victoria secure the foundation from which we are preparing to launch forward, and ask that you continue to support us as we work to secure a future for at least 20 endangered species that deserve nothing less.

I hope that you enjoy reading Zoos Victoria’s Wildlife Conservation Master Plan. On behalf of Zoos Victoria, I invite you to join us for the next five years as we begin to fight extinction like we have never done before.

Rachel LowryDirector Wildlife Conservation and Science Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction Commitment

ZOOS VICTORIA’S FIghTINg ExTINCTION COMMITMENT:NO VICTORIAN TERRESTRIAL VERTEbRATE SPECIES WILL bECOME ExTINCT ON OuR WATCh.The aim of the Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction commitment is to secure and recover species at risk of extinction before it is too late. Consequently, Zoos Victoria’s Wildlife Conservation and Science Department has prioritised 20 native threatened species that urgently require conservation interventions due to their likelihood of extinction in the wild over the next 10 years. Threatened species conservation priorities are determined based on the following criteria:

+ Small population size

+ Declining population

+ Restricted distribution

+ Presence of key threatening process

Please note: Four of our 20 priority species are found outside Victoria. These species occur across south-eastern Australia and have triggered captive conservation intervention due to their perilous situation and our pre-exisiting involvement in their ex situ conservation.


hOW DO WE AChIEVE ThE DIRECTION OF OuR STRATEgIC PLAN?

Zoos Victoria Strategic Plan 2009-29

The Strategic Plan is our 20 year landmark planning document which established our vision to be the world’s leading zoo-based conservation organisation and sets our mission for the next 20 years - to galvanise communities to commit to the conservation of wildlife and wild places by connecting people and wildlife. The Strategic Plan also identifies our five action areas that direct how we will achieve these aims.

1 Conservation, 2 Our Animals, 3 Our Visitors, 4 Our People, 5 Financial Sustainability

Zoos Victoria Corporate Plan 2013-18

The Corporate Plan document is submitted to State Government for endorsement by our Minister. This five year plan provides objectives that we will deliver for each of our five action areas. It provides each directorate with the basis to prepare their individual annual Operations Plan.

Zoos Victoria Conservation Science Plan

The Conservation Science Plan outlines the organisation’s whole-of-business approach to achieving conservation outcomes. It sets out strategic focus areas, and articulates a set of guiding principles that ensure that our conservation work is supported by scientific rigor. This plan outlines the two ways that Zoos Victoria fights extinction:

1 Threatened species recovery programs 2 Community conservation

Zoos Victoria Wildlife Conservation Master Plan

The Wildlife Conservation Master Plan captures a sequence of costed projects that will not only prevent the extinction of our priority species, but will also allow us to take significant steps forward in recovering key species.

Property Operation Plan 2013-14

The annual Property Operation Plan is developed for each of Zoos Victoria’s three properties. This plan identifies the direction and priorities for delivery in the coming year.

Please note: The aim of each plan listed below Zoos Victoria’s Strategic Plan (2009-29) is to is to provide a level of operational detail that enables each functional area of Zoos Victoria’s business to actualize our vision and mission. There is intentional overlap between each plan to capture a unified and integrated web of operations.

Zoos Victoria’s Community Conservation Master Plan is currently under development.

‘Zoos play a critical role in saving species from extinction.

We care for amaZing Wildlife and have access to unique

skill-sets and incredible reach. We’re only just discovering

hoW poWerful We can be.’ jenny gray, chief executive officer, Zoos victoria

PROjECTS

Where appropriate, projects have been themed under the species that will benefit most from implementation of the planned actions. Zoos Victoria

recognises the need to support broad-based ecological interventions. Projects have been identified and developed to benefit both ecological

communities and key species. Projects may be named after the species that will receive the most benefit from them, or to reflect a specific

focus such as cryopreservation. This document provides a summary of the project motivations and total project costs. Detailed project plans

that capture key partners, a breakdown of costs and ideal timelines can be obtained from the Zoos Victoria’s Wildlife Conservation and Science

Department upon request. We hope that you are inspired to support our projects over the next five years.

Expanded costs across the five years are listed on page 46.



ACT Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate

ACT Parks and Conservation Land

Amphibian Research Centre

Animal & Gene Resource and Storage Centre - Monash University

Arthur Rylah Institute

Baw Baw Frog Recovery Team

Baw Baw National Park

Baw Baw Shire Council

Birds Australia

Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Recovery Team

Conservation Breeding Specialist Group

Conservation Volunteers Australia

Corroboree Frog Recovery Team

Department of Environment and Primary Industries (Vic)

Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team

Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater

Friends of Leadbeater’s Possum

Helmeted Honeyeater Recovery Team

James Cook University

Leadbeater’s Possum Recovery Team

Lord Howe Island Board

Mabuwaya Foundation

Museum Victoria

Mountain Pygmy-possum Recovery Team

Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre

Murray Catchment Management Authority

Northern Rangelands Trust

Office for Environment and Heritage (NSW)

Orange-bellied-Parrot Recovery Team

Parks Victoria

Phillip Island Nature Park

San Mariano Municipal Government

Save the Tasmanian Devil Program

Spotted Tree Frog Recovery Team

Taronga Conservation Society Australia

Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve

University of Melbourne

Victoria University

Zoo and Aquarium Association

ThANkS TO OuR PARTNERS

Zoos Victoria is incredibly grateful for the support and guidance that we receive from our partners. The fight against extinction is far too great for one, but not too great for many.

Zoos Victoria would like to acknowledge and give special thanks to the Department of Environment and Primary Industries for providing a significant level of ongoing support across our conservation endeavours and broader zoo-based operations.

MAMMALS ThE SOuND OF ExTINCTION STILL RINgS IN OuR EARS

The last known living Christmas Island Pipistrelle (Pipistrellus murrayi) disappeared in August 2009. Some of our staff witnessed this extinction.

They recorded the bat’s last shrill whilst working with a team of specialists preparing for an intervention. The brief was simple, collect the remaining individuals to secure a captive insurance population. Devastatingly, it was

already too late. This is only one of 27 Australian mammalian species to go extinct since colonisation. More regrettably this microbat represents

the first mammal extinction since the 1950’s. Working in partnership, we are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that it is the last.

The eight mammals listed in the projects that follow are in rapid decline and on an extinction trajectory that urgently needs to be turned around. Together we can secure these species for the future. To do this, we need

to act decisively and imminently.


RETuRNINg ThE EASTERN bARRED bANDICOOT TO ThE WILD

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot (EBB) (Perameles gunnii) is a small marsupial endemic to south-eastern Australia. Since European settlement, this species has undergone widespread and catastrophic decline in range and abundance on the mainland due to fox predation and habitat loss. The mainland EBB would be extinct without Melbourne Zoo’s captive-breeding program and establishment of an insurance population that provides hope for the recovery of this species. The species is ‘extinct in the wild’.

Zoos Victoria and our partners recognise that we are now in a unique position to secure this species for future generations, and there is genuine potential to improve its Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) status. Together with the Recovery Team, we have set a clear recovery target of 2500 individuals spread across a range of Victorian sites to establish and maintain a self-sustaining wild population. To date, the population has increased from less than 50 in 1989 to approximately 400 individuals. The critical next steps in the recovery of this species will aim to increase the population from 400 individuals to in excess of 2,500, with the majority of them being in the wild.

The recovery success of the EBB over the next five years requires success of eight projects:


Secure Zoos Victoria’s EBB captive breeding program at Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo to allow for sustained breeding capacity, improved behavioural fitness and to ensure reliable fox exclusion zones at Werribee Open Range Zoo. $285,000 p.a

Upgrade the Melbourne Zoo EBB facility. Upgrade the Melbourne Zoo EBB facility to create more functional holdings, including security cage, automated drinkers, improved drainage and expanded roof. Natural vegetation will also be increased. $110,000

Appoint an EBB Project Officer to coordinate breeding and recovery. This person will work for Zoos Victoria and work closely with the EBB recovery team coordinating partner engagement, site preparation and inspections, as well as release and monitoring programs over 5 years. $360,000

Fence private land at Tiverton Station in western Victoria (800 ha of suitable habitat) and release EBBs to boost the captive insurance population by up to 1,000 animals. $600,000

Release the EBB onto Phillip Island where the habitat has been assessed as suitable and Phillip Island Nature Park staff are able to assist with post-release monitoring. $130,000

Release the EBB onto French Island where a trial release was conducted in 2012 which indicated that there is suitable habitat to support a self-sustaining population. $320,000

Instate a Dual Purpose Guardian Dog Program using Maremma Dogs to trial a protection strategy on private land at Tiverton (over five years). The aim of this program is to secure a population of EBBs in habitat without feral proof fencing. The guardian dog program will also help monitor the EBBs after release and will form part of the Fighting Extinction Dog Squad (page 19). This draws upon the Middle Island Maremma Project (Warrnambool) case study that successfully protected Little Penguins from fox predation. Experts advise that EBBs are an ideal species to benefit from the Guardian Dog model. $580,000

Introduce a mobile drone monitoring system (in partnership with Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre) to trial new technologies to monitor the ongoing success of the species within wild populations. $35,000

Total Cost (over 5 years): $3.56 million

SuPPORTINg ThE RECOVERy OF ThE MOuNTAIN PygMy-POSSuM


The Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) is an endangered species with less than 1500 individuals in the wild. Found on mountains this species is threatened by climate change, habitat fragmentation and predation by feral animals. Its total range has now been reduced to less than 10km2 .

In 2007 Zoos Victoria was asked to establish an insurance population in captivity, with the aim of eventually supplementing the wild through captive breeding and release of individuals.

Throughout the life of this program we have developed husbandry protocols to keep and breed this species in captivity, and for the first time in November 2013 we released a small number of captive-born possums to Mt Buller to test their ability to survive and reproduce. Preliminary outcomes from the trial are encouraging with evidence that captive-born possums are breeding.

In order for captive breeding to support the Mountain Pygmy-possum in future years, there are two key knowledge gaps that are a priority to resolve. The two knowledge gaps that require further research and resolution are:

+ How to reliably breed wild caught founders in captivity

+ How to most effectively release captive born possums to the wild to ensure their survival and population growth.

We propose to address these questions by undertaking a four year breeding and release program using animals from the wild. At the completion of this program Zoos Victoria will be in the best position to evaluate the success of captive breeding as a conservation tool for this species and better equipped to step in and assist the Mountain Pygmy-possum recovery team and Victorian Government with recovery of populations after catastrophic events such as wildfires.

Consequently, the critical next steps to support the long-term recovery of this species include:

Implement a two year breeding program of wild-caught founder females using current husbandry techniques to consolidate best practice husbandry, breeding and release.

2014/15 $154,000

2015/16 $96,000

Total Cost (over 5 years): $250,000

14

Securing a SuSTainaBLe TaSmanian DeviL inSurance PoPuLaTion

The survival of the Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is seriously threatened by Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). Populations have declined by more than 84% since 1996. Sadly, leading researchers from the University of Sydney are finding that the contagious cancer is becoming more aggressive.

In 2009, at the request of the Tasmanian Government and the Zoo and Aquarium Association, Zoos Victoria joined a captive breeding program for the Tasmania Devil along with a network of Zoos and Sanctuaries throughout Australia. Healesville Sanctuary currently holds the second largest group of devils (approx. 80 animals) and has the highest breeding rate (having produced more than 90 young). Consequently, Zoos Victoria plays a critical role in providing insurance against the extinction of the Tasmanian Devil.

Whilst much effort has gone into establishing a captive insurance population for this species, experience and current research indicates that the species would significantly benefit from the establishment of one or more wild insurance populations of considerable size to compliment the captive effort.

In order to ensure the lowest possible risk of DFTD reinfection, Zoos Victoria believes that consideration and analysis should be given to establishing a wild insurance population on mainland Australia. A site such as Wilsons Promontory, where the Tasmanian Devil was once found, could provide a new and substantial area of approximately. 50,000 ha to contribute to the national free-ranging insurance population. Based on estimates of densities in north-eastern Tasmania, this area may be able to sustain around 400 to 500 animals, potentially adequate for a long-term, self-sustaining population.

Zoos Victoria recognises that this project is bold and audacious. However preliminary analysis indicates that establishing a wild insurance population of Tasmanian Devils on the mainland has the potential to generate benefits to both Wilsons Promontory and the Tasmanian Devil. Consequently, feasibility and risk assessments are required to ensure that Victoria has done everything possible to support our Tasmanian colleagues fighting the extinction of this iconic species.

Secure Zoos Victoria’s Tasmanian Devil captive breeding efforts. $674,508 p.a

Conduct an independent review assessing risk and feasibility of mainland introduction. $30,000



The firST STePS for Securing auSTraLia’S Smoky mouSe

The Smoky Mouse (Pseudomys fumeus) is a small rodent endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is named after its pale smoke coloured fur, but across Victoria the colour and size of the Smoky Mouse tends to vary, with species in western Victoria slightly larger and darker than those towards the east. It is known for its long tail which it bangs noisily if it feels threatened.

Despite once being widespread, populations of the Smoky Mouse now tend to be small and fragmented. Key threatening processes for the Smoky Mouse include habitat loss and fragmentation, increased threats of bushfires leading to less suitable shelter sites for predator avoidance and the introduction of feral predators. In particular, it is believed that cats and foxes are responsible for localized extinctions of some populations.

Classified as endangered, and with mounting evidence from field data indicating a continued population decline, Zoos Victoria believes that we are in a unique position to be pro-active and ensure that we can provide ex situ support for the Smoky Mouse before populations fall to critical levels.

In 2014, Zoos Victoria intends to commence a Smoky Mouse captive breeding program at Melbourne Zoo to allow for research into successful husbandry, breeding and reintroduction of the Smoky Mouse for future recovery efforts.

Critical next steps include:

Upgrade Melbourne Zoo’s ‘Mouse House’ facility. This will allow for the refurbishment of the existing retired ‘house of mouse’ which can house both the Smoky Mouse and New Holland Mouse, including installation of a new air-conditioning system, light timers, hot water system and a new door, plus fixing the leaking roof and floor. $13,000

Building Smoky Mouse husbandry skills and capacity including dietary and veterinary care. $33,000 p.a

Display the Smoky Mouse at Melbourne Zoo’s Keeper Kids in a 2m x 2m nocturnal setting. $15,000

Conduct research to develop release protocols for the Smoky Mouse to the wild and monitor success through radio-tracking over 3 years, commencing 2016. $63,000

Provide three Zoos Victoria Fellowship positions to monitor releases to the wild and provide staff development. This initiative provides the opportunity for a suitably skilled staff member to be directly involved in a conservation project. $24,000 total (over 3 years)


‘We are very effective at preventing extinction When

We focus our efforts, but innovative approaches are

likely to be required if We are to return species to a secure

conservation status.’ dr dan harley, senior ecologist, Zoos victoria


RECOVERINg VICTORIA’S FAuNAL EMbLEM LEADbEATER’S POSSuM AND hELMETED hONEyEATER

The last wild population of Helmeted Honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops cassidix) and lowland Leadbeater’s Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) occur in one small conservation reserve at Yellingbo, where just 60 honeyeaters and 40 possums survive. The key reason for this decline is deterioration in habitat quality. Given the high likelihood of these genetically important populations becoming extinct in the wild over the coming 10 years, both species have been prioritized by Zoos Victoria for captive-breeding and release. Given their tendency to occupy the same environment, conservation investment for one population invariably benefits the other.

A clear vision of success has been defined for these species, but it requires increasing the capacity of the captive-breeding program in combination with habitat restoration to create new release sites. Targeted habitat restoration is urgently required at the current wild site (Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve), and two additional localities over the next five years to establish new populations. The project provides a unique opportunity to link habitat restoration with the recovery of two high profile threatened species.

Previous experience has shown that predators can have a major adverse impact on the establishment success of captive-bred individuals released to the wild. To address this, Healesville Sanctuary will need to create a predator awareness and pre-release training facility to improve the fitness and survival skills of both Helmeted Honeyeaters (HeHos) and Leadbeater’s Possums (LBPs) if we are to effectively restore three wild populations in the future.

A major focus in the next 5 years is to boost insurance population numbers and create new release sites in an effort to meet recovery targets.

Restoring the Coranderrk Bushland Reserve is a vital project moving forward as it will enable the establishment of a free-ranging population of Lowland LBPs and HeHos right at Healesville Sanctuary’s doorstep. This pre-release site will also enhance behavioural fitness of captive individuals and allow for increased reproductive outputs of this closed population through the provision of supplementary feeding.

Young birds born in the Coranderrk will be used in reintroductions to establish new populations at other locations. The project requires revegetation, the removal of feral species and site preparation as high priority actions and would build on the incredible work achieved to date in establishing feral-proof fencing around this 142 ha patch of remarkable bushland.

Critical next steps to support the recovery of Helmeted Honeyeaters and lowland Leadbeater’s Possums over the next 5 years include:

Yellingbo habitat restoration to create new release localities within the Reserve. $640,000

Construct a new breeding facility and use Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters as surrogates to increase the reproductive output of Helmeted Honeyeaters at Healesville Sanctuary. $211,500

Restore Coranderrk Bushland to support free-ranging populations of threatened species. $1,104,000

Haining Farm habitat restoration to establish a second wild population of both species in order to boost the total population and manage the risk of fire. $400,000

Scope the development of a Threatened Species Predator Avoidance training centre designed to primarily benefit the Helmeted Honeyeater and lowland Leadbeater’s Possum. $30,000

Maintain the current Heho insurance population and captive breeding at Healesville Sanctuary $246,281 p.a

Initiate a Lowland LBP captive insurance population at Healesville Sanctuary $129,806 p.a


Reminder: A detailed plan for each project capturing sequential costs across each of the five years can be provided upon request.


LEADINg ThE FIRST STEPS TO RECOVERINg ThE NEW hOLLAND MOuSE

The New Holland Mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae) is a small rodent that lives in dry coastal heathland, heathy woodland, open forest and vegetated sand dunes of Victoria, NSW and Tasmania. Sadly, populations are believed to be rapidly declining in all states. Despite its small size, it is easily distinguished from the similar sized House Mouse by its larger eyes and ears and longer tail. The Victorian population of the New Holland Mouse was only discovered in Victoria in 1970 (New Holland Mice were discovered in the 1850s) making it an exciting recent mammal discovery, but since that time it has suffered population decline and local extinctions. Key threatening processes for the New Holland Mouse include habitat loss and fragmentation, die-back of their habitat due to Cinnamon Fungus, increased threats of bushfires leading to less suitable shelter sites for predator avoidance and the introduction of feral predators. Due to the small population sizes, local catastrophes such as a fire or large numbers of foxes and feral cats could rapidly wipe out entire populations.

Zoos Victoria, in partnership with Melbourne Museum, is currently investigating whether Victorian New Holland Mice are genetically different from those in NSW and Tasmania.

A critically important next step is to determine how the wild populations are faring in Victoria through targeted surveys as follows:

Commence field monitoring for the New Holland Mouse Undertake field monitoring of key New Holland Mouse sites to determine population size, structure and trends to inform future recovery actions. $60,000

Total cost (over 5 years): $60,000

ESTAbLIShINg A FIghTINg ExTINCTION DOg SquAD

Releasing species to the wild is an exciting time. However the recovery efforts do not end on the day of release. Zoos Victoria are committed to monitoring threatened species over a suitable period of time once released to the wild so that we can account for their welfare as well as determine whether the recovery initiative has been successful in achieving its goals.

The monitoring and collection of several of our priority native threatened species poses a number of challenges. Radio tracking collars and devices are expensive, at times unreliable and can cause welfare concerns if too big, not fitted properly or are faulty. Traditional monitoring methods are also labor intensive and sometimes inadequate at assessing species presence.

Consequently, Zoos Victoria would like to trial the effectiveness of utilizing specifically trained sniffer dogs to locate threatened species such as the New Holland Mouse, Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Smoky Mouse and even the Baw Baw Frog. Zoos Victoria’s staff have exceptional animal training skills and already work with species such as dingoes to provide world leading care. Training dogs to track specific animals will take dedication and time, but we believe that it can be done and could provide a non-invasive and direct tool in tracking both target species and individual animals.

The trial will involve working with canine experts to determine which breed of dog is best to trial as we work towards establishing the world’s first zoo-based Fighting Extinction Dog Squad. As a secondary benefit, a sniffer dog program will help raise the profile of some of Victoria’s cryptic and hidden species through increased publicity.

Please note that cost estimates cover the salary of the handler, training, certification, veterinary services, kennelling and dog food with advice secured from like initiatives such as the ‘Dog Drug Squad’ run by The Transportation Security Administration (USA). Zoos Victoria is committed to the welfare of all animals that come into our care and would ensure that in the event that the trial is unsuccessful dogs will be re-homed to carers that provide high standards of care.

Establish a Fighting Extinction Dog program to trial the effectiveness of sniffer dogs to assist the field surveys and monitoring activities that are critical to our Fighting Extinction work.$173,000 p.a



20 ZOOS VICTORIA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MASTER PLAN 2014 – 1920 ZOOS VICTORIA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MASTER PLAN 2014 – 19

RECOVERINg ‘ThE ShADOW’ - VICTORIA’S bRuSh-TAILED ROCk-WALLAby

The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) was once so abundant in eastern Victoria that at the start of the nineteenth century thousands were killed for the fur trade. Hunting, coupled with the introduction of the Red Fox, has precipitated substantial population declines resulting in local extinction at numerous sites across the species home range. Today, fewer than 100 Victorian Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies remain in the wild and captivity. The last wild population in East Gippsland currently numbers fewer than 40 individuals, making it Victoria’s most critically endangered mammal.

During the past decade, an intensive captive-breeding program has been underway for Victoria’s Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby. Reproductive rates have been lower than expected, possibly due to low genetic diversity in the captive population. This has limited the number of young available for release to the wild.

A high rate of reproductive success has recently been observed for a free-ranging population of Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies housed in a large predator-exclusion compound at Mt Rothwell. The immediate priority for the recovery program is to build on this success and create a strong insurance population that contains at least 200 individuals and produces a significant number of young that can be released to wild sites subject to intensive fox control in East Gippsland and the Grampians.

To create a strong insurance population and provide the essential foundation necessary to recover rock-wallaby populations, the following project is urgently required for Victoria’s most endangered mammal:

To establish a free-ranging insurance population within suitable fox-free habitat that will produce young that can be reintroduced to other localities. This project requires the construction and maintenance of a predator exclusion fence to keep out foxes. Under the guidance of the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby recovery team, suitable localities for the establishment of this free-ranging population are currently being evaluated, with Werribee Open Range Zoo under assessment as a preferred location. $430,000


ASSESSINg WhEThER ThE EASTERN quOLL TRIggERS ZOOS VICTORIA’S FIghTINg ExTINCTION INTERVENTIONThe Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus) was once so widespread and locally abundant across south-eastern Australia, that in the 1850s one naturalist described them as the ‘commonest mammal’ encountered in the Victorian bush. Populations appeared to undergo severe declines around the turn of the twentieth century, possibly due to an unknown epidemic that is thought to have impacted several species of marsupial. Many thousands were also poisoned and there was increasing competition from cats and foxes. Despite this, a population survived until the mid-1950s in parkland along the Yarra River in suburban Melbourne. Sadly, in the 1960s, this highly charismatic species became extinct on the Australian mainland.

Until recently, the Eastern Quoll remained secure in Tasmania. However, recent data indicates significant population declines at several localities. There is a fear that an increase in feral cat populations (as a consequence of the decline in Tasmanian Devils), is having an impact on quoll populations. The recent introduction of the feral Red Fox to Tasmania also poses a grave risk to the species. Molecular data indicates that Eastern Quoll populations in Tasmania have low genetic diversity. This creates a need for early conservation intervention due to a loss of genetic diversity in the face of the current declines.

Consequently, Zoos Victoria will collate necessary data from a range of sources to assess whether 1) the species requires zoo-based intervention and 2) whether the species would benefit from returning Eastern Quolls to Victoria after an absence of more than half a century

Consequently, the critical next step for this species is:

Research to determine the most suitable conservation interventions for the Eastern Quoll. $30,000

Total Cost: $30,000



DETERMININg NuMbERS OF ThE CRITICALLy ENDANgERED SOuThERN bENT-WINg bAT

The critically endangered Southern Bent-wing Bat (Miniopterus schreibersii bassanii) once numbered more than 200,000 individuals. Current estimates suggest that less than 50,000 remain. Most significantly, the species breeds in just two caves – one at Naracoorte in the south-east of South Australia and Starlight Cave near Warrnambool in Victoria. The survival of the species is entirely reliant on maintaining the integrity of these sites, and in particular the unique micro-climate they provide for rearing young. Thus, ensuring these two caves have adequate protection is a major priority for this recovery program.

Starlight Cave is associated with the sea cliffs of south-western Victoria. This landform has created difficulties in accessing the site for monitoring, and involves scaling the cliff using rock-climbing techniques. The massive internal dimensions of the cave also pose monitoring challenges. As a result there are several key knowledge gaps, including the number of bats using the cave at different times throughout the year and across different years. This knowledge is essential to determine the current population size, to determine population trends, and to measure the effectiveness of management actions aimed at increasing the population with the support of the Arthur Rylah Institute.

Other caves are used for denning outside the breeding season as the species disperses across south-western Victoria. Unfortunately some of these caves have been used as rubbish dumps making them unsuitable for the Bent-wing Bat. Removing rubbish and restoring these caves will improve access to these important non-breeding refuges.

The following actions are urgently required to improve our understanding and management of Victoria’s only maternity site for the Southern Bent-wing Bat:

Obtain Southern Bent-wing Bat population estimates for the bats in Starlight Cave using cutting edge technology (thermal imaging cameras, missile-tracking software, ultrasonic bat detectors). $60,000 p.a

Restore caves on private properties in south-western Victoria that provide critical refuges for Southern Bent-wing Bats outside the breeding season. $30,000 p.a


bIRDS gLIDINg TOWARDS ExTINCTION

One in every eight bird species on this planet is at risk of extinction. In maintaining a focus in assisting species at our doorstep first, Zoos

Victoria has identified three species in Victoria alone that will become extinct in the next ten years if we fail to act now. The Orange-bellied

Parrot, Regent Honeyeater and Victoria’s own avian emblem the Helmeted Honeyeater have suffered rapid declines and are under continued pressure from habitat loss and fragmentation. Maintaining a focus on their habitats, breeding capacity and improving fitness for release, together we have the

tools to turn the tide on this impending wave of extinction. Please note: see page 17 for Helmeted Honeyeater program.


SuPPORTINg EFFORTS TO SAVE ThE REgENT hONEyEATER


The Regent Honeyeater (Xanthomyza phrygia), with its brilliant flashes of yellow, was once seen overhead in flocks of hundreds. Today the Regent Honeyeater has become a ‘flagship species’ for conservation in the threatened box-ironbark forests of Victoria and NSW on which it depends.

Loss of their woodland habitat is the major threat to this species and to other woodland birds. Due to expanding agriculture eighty-five percent of the box-ironbark woodlands, once extensively distributed across inland eastern Australia, have been cleared, making them one of the most threatened ecosystems in the country.

Whilst the Regent Honeyeater triggers Zoos Victoria’s criteria to warrant conservation intervention, the committed and capable teams at Taronga Conservation Society Australia and Birds Australia have taken the lead in assisting the recovery of this species. Consequently, Zoos Victoria will play a supporting role over the next five years to use our skill-base and reach to further boost the recovery effort for the Regent Honeyeater. This work will be done whilst working in close partnership with the species Recovery Team and Taronga Conservation Society.

In order to enhance Melbourne Zoo’s capacity to assist the recovery efforts of the Regent Honeyeater, as well as enabling us to display and interpret a range of threatened bird species such as the Regent Honeyeater and Helmeted Honeyeater at Melbourne Zoo, the following project is required:

This project would be an exciting development at Melbourne Zoo for it would fill a current gap within the visitor experience, providing opportunity for individuals to experience close encounters with some of Australia’s rarest birds.

Construct four new Regent Honeyeater aviaries to accommodate breeding. This project scope includes double-doors, shelter, vegetation, ponds, heating and animal husbandry. $175,000

Total Cost: $175,000


PREVENTINg ExTINCTION AND PROMOTINg RECOVERy OF ThE ORANgE-bELLIED PARROT

Fewer than 50 Orange-bellied Parrots (OBPs) (Neophema chrysogaster) remain in the wild. Without further intervention, extinction of this critically endangered species is predicted to occur within five years. This would be the first extinction of a mainland bird since the early 1900’s and the most documented extinction of an Australian species in history.

Extinction in the wild can be avoided with a robust captive insurance population capable of producing substantial numbers of birds for release each year. This objective is being pursued by the National OBP Recovery Team but is seriously hampered by insufficient capacity for holding and breeding birds. Moreover, there are no adequate facilities to provide pre-release conditioning of birds that would ensure that released birds have the maximum opportunity to survive and reproduce.

Releases of birds will prevent extinction in the short-term, but recovery in the wild is likely to depend on addressing the issues responsible for decline in the wild. However, very little is known about the location and timing of deaths because these birds migrate annually between Tasmania and the mainland and spend winter anywhere along 1000 km of the south-east Australian coastline. New remote tracking technology is now available that could provide important insights into movement and death patterns, which in turn might reveal the most effective means to recover the species in the wild.

The following actions are required in order to prevent the extinction of the OBP and provide the greatest prospect for recovery:

Secure Zoos Victoria’s current OBP captive breeding and release efforts. $231,000 p.a

Construction of additional breeding facilities to increase the number of birds for release. $680,000

Construction of a pre-release holding and conditioning aviary at Werribee Open Range Zoo to ensure the quality of birds for release. $425,000

Support annual releases to the wild. $30,000 p.a

Provision of funds for effective program co-ordination by Recovery Team. $45,000 p.a

Implementation of new monitoring technology. $125,000

Total Cost (over 5 years): $2,760,000

‘We’ve shoWn that We can breed some of the most challenging species on the planet. and We’ve come a long Way in managing the genetics and behavioural fitness of the species in our recovery programs. While We’ll continue to strive for further improvements in these areas, the time has come to focus our efforts on returning these species to the Wild.’dr michael magrath, senior scientist, Zoos victoria

AMPhIbIANS A gLObAL CRISIS

Amphibians across the world are facing extinction at unprecedented rates. Over a third of the 6200+ known species are under threat of extinction, with the IUCN reporting that since the 1980’s at least 122 species have already gone Extinct. Highly susceptible to deteriorating environmental conditions, amphibians across the planet are also under attack from the spread of the fatal Amphibian Chytrid Fungus. In addition, we are losing species before we can even grasp the complexity of their role within the ecosystems. A quarter of Zoos Victoria’s priority native threatened species are frogs. Their very existence is now entirely dependent on captive interventions. Urgent action is required to prevent this looming catastrophe and protect our world’s most vulnerable taxa. We hope that you’ll help us do our bit, starting with Australia’s rarest species, the Southern Corroboree Frog.

SECuRINg A FuTuRE FOR OuR REPTILES TO bASk IN

Unfortunately, reptiles are not immune to habitat loss and fragmentation. There is still so little known about the abundance of

many of our native reptiles and as we continue to discover the secrets of these species, we are uncovering the sad truth that many of them are

now threatened with extinction. In Victoria, three species in particular are now more susceptible than ever to stochastic events such as fire eliminating entire populations in one fell swoop. Leaving populations

fragmented, isolated and at risk of extinction is not an option. We must act now. Zoos Victoria’s primary focus for the next five years

is to development husbandry requirements and emergency response protocols for our most vulnerable reptilian species, in an effort to give

them a fighting chance when push comes to shove.


FIghTINg ThE IMMINENT ExTINCTION OF ThE SOuThERN CORRObOREE FROg

The tiny but brilliantly-coloured Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) is an Australian icon. But it is also Australia’s most endangered frog species, with the wild population now numbering fewer than 20 individuals. Restricted to the Snowy Mountains Regions of Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales, the key threat driving this species towards extinction is disease – the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus (Chytridomycosis). Zoos have secured this frog in captivity through captive breeding, but re-establishing the species in the wild is the ultimate aim.

This project has two key goals. The first is to re-establish the frog in the wild through transferring eggs and frogs from Zoos Victoria into disease-free enclosures in the National Park, allowing them to grow in the absence of the fungus and move out into the alpine meadows. This innovative approach maintains ‘field fit’ frogs and reduces the risk to the species overall by increasing the captive capacity across more facilities. The technique is currently being trialed in Kosciuszko National Park, with initial evaluation indicating successful establishment of the frogs. Urgently-needed expansion of this project to evaluate its effectiveness is constrained by lack of resources.

The second goal of this project is to enable this species to attain sustained resistance to the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, as that is critical to the frog’s recovery in the wild. Achieving this requires control of disease infection and selection for traits in captivity that confer disease resistance. Strategic research is required to attain the necessary knowledge to implement this program.

The critical next steps to prevent the imminent extinction of this species and enhance recovery prospects include:

Secure current Southern Corroboree Frogs annual captive breeding and release efforts. $98,000 p.a

Increase captive production of eggs, including disease testing and robust monitoring of developing frogs. $150,000 p.a

Construct and maintain two additional large disease-free field enclosures in Mt Kosciuszko National Park (approx. 340m2 each).$250,000

Construct and maintain 20 small disease-free field enclosures in Mt Kosciuszko National Park. $100,000

Develop the application of assisted reproductive technologies to enhance reproductive outputs. $140,000 p.a

Conduct research to identify traits associated with a more robust immune response to the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus. $498,000

Appoint field staff to assist with ongoing population monitoring and interventions. $180,000 p.a


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bREEDINg AND RECOVERINg ThE NORThERN CORRObOREE FROg

Differing from its southern counterpart, the Northern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne pengilleyi) has a greenish tinge and is found in both the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. Sadly, like the Southern Corroboree Frog, its population is in rapid decline due to infection of Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, damage to breeding sites from feral pigs and horses and the impacts of extreme weather, fire and drought.

Over the next five years Zoos Victoria aims to enhance our current reproductive outputs and efforts in fighting the extinction of this species. Enhanced captive breeding efforts will allow us to release individuals to supplement declining populations. We also intend to work with our partners at the ACT Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate to establish a secure, disease-free enclosure in the wild.

Establishing in situ enclosures that maintain disease-free frogs would be a major advance in the recovery of this species in the wild. Over time, this development would also reduce the Zoos Victoria resource allocation to these frogs at our properties.

Projects that will help to prevent the extinction of the Northern Corroboree Frog over the next five years and enhance its recovery prospects are:

Construct and maintain one large in situ enclosure for Northern Corroboree Frogs in Namadgi National Park, ACT approx. 340m2 in size.$325,000


Please Note: The Northern Corroboree Frog will also greatly benefit from the establishment of an Amphibian Breeding Centre at Melbourne Zoo (see page 36)


LEADINg uRgENT CONSERVATION INTERVENTION FOR ThE bAW bAW FROg

The Baw Baw Frog (Philoria frosti) is in desperate need of our help. Like many amphibians, the Baw Baw Frog has suffered a dramatic population decline over the last 20 years due to the spread of Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, competition or predation by introduced species and climate change.

In August 2013, field survey results from Dr Greg Hollis were released to Zoos Victoria indicating that population decline has accelerated, with an approximate 30% decline in the past two years. This is a significant loss and emphasises the need for urgent intervention. Every single year is critical in fighting the extinction of this species.

Very little is currently known about the husbandry of this species. What does it eat? What temperatures are required to promote breeding? The first step to provide zoo-based conservation intervention is to embark on a research program that will help crack the code to breeding this cryptic species. Once Melbourne Zoo’s herpetofauna specialists have secured this information their focus will shift to captive breeding and release of this critically endangered species under the guidance of species experts.

In order to prevent the extinction of this species over the next five years Zoos Victoria must:

Crack the code to breeding the Baw Baw Frog. This research project will be led by Zoos Victoria and has secured approval from the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries to collect egg masses from the wild. $63,920 p.a



InsurIng the spotted tree Frog agaInst extInctIonThe Spotted Tree Frog (Litoria spenceri) is a small, but beautiful mountain stream-dwelling frog from south-eastern Australia. It is listed as critically endangered with threats including habitat destruction and modification, predation by introduced trout and, particularly, the infection by the deadly Amphibian Chytrid Fungus, which is devastating frog populations around the world. The Spotted Tree Frog is now found only in small fast-flowing stretches of 13 river systems in Victoria and southern NSW and these populations are declining.

Healesville Sanctuary has been involved in breeding and research for the Spotted Tree Frog since 1991. New data obtained by Zoos Victoria investigating threats to the Spotted Tree Frog and population trends are currently being analysed and will inform future recovery efforts. The Spotted Tree Frog Recovery Team has requested that Zoos Victoria maintain an insurance population against extinction of this frog, and following analysis of the latest data by the University of Melbourne and the Spotted Tree Frog recovery team will determine whether a larger-scale captive breeding and release program is required in the future.

At Zoos Victoria, the critical next step to insure this species against extinction is to maintain a healthy and genetically diverse population of Spotted Tree Frogs.

Maintain the Spotted Tree Frog Insurance population (includes maintenance of captive frog population, staff costs and equipment). $69,000 p.a


‘There’s someThing really comforTing in knowing ThaT we can breed some of The world’s raresT species in capTiviTy. we achieve This by consTanTly adapTing whaT we do using science and having The full commiTmenT of our zoo keeping sTaff. i’m consTanTly inspired by Their whole-hearTed devoTion - iT really is a privilege To work alongside Them.’dr melanie lancasTer, assisTanT curaTor ThreaTened species

LEADINg ThE SEARCh FOR ThE STuTTERINg FROg AND gRASSLAND EARLESS DRAgON


We know very little of the current conservation status of two of Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction Species; the Stuttering Frog (Mixophyes balbus) and the Grassland Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla). In fact there is real concern that these two species are already extinct in Victoria. The Stuttering Frog has not been recorded in Victoria since the 1970s, while the presence of the Grassland Earless Dragon has not been confirmed since 1969 (although there have been potential sightings reported up until 1990). Whilst Zoos Victoria would like to be in a proactive position from which to lead the recovery of these species, conservation action is currently hindered by insufficient population, genetic and ecological information.

Zoos Victoria will conduct carefully planned surveys in an effort to collect sufficient data to draw sound conclusions on whether these species still occur in Victoria. To do this, mathematical models will be constructed to determine the most suitable sites for them in the wild. We will also undertake critical genetic research to determine whether the Victorian populations of both species are genetically distinct. This question requires the use of ancient genetics techniques to compare populations and will require Zoos Victoria to work closely with our partners at the Melbourne Museum.

Consequently, critical next steps to help prevent these species being declared extinct on our watch include:

Conduct research to determine whether the Stuttering Frog and the Grassland Earless Dragon still occur in Victoria. $50,000

Undertake genetic research to determine how closely the Victorian populations resemble existing populations in other states. $16,000

Total cost: $66,000


ESTAbLIShINg A WORLD CLASS AMPhIbIAN CENTRE AT MELbOuRNE ZOO

Some twenty-five percent of Zoos Victoria’s priority threatened species are native frogs. This strong investment in frog conservation reflects the dire situation for this group in general, with 33% of frog species globally and 28% of Australian frog species threatened with extinction. No other major taxonomic group is under this level of threat. A major expansion of Zoos Victoria’s capacity to hold and breed threatened native frogs will significantly increase and accelerate the rate at which we are able to:

+ Address critical husbandry challenges

+ Increase wild populations through release of captive-bred frogs

+ Contribute to solving critical questions around the impacts of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus through providing eggs for priority research.

This development will also allow Melbourne Zoo to transform the modest current visitor experience for frogs at Melbourne Zoo into a ‘must see’. It is only in the last decade that zoos have started to do more than just display amphibians as an adjunct (often small) to reptiles and this project will allow Zoos Victoria to lead the way.

What is most exciting about this investment, is that it will deliver enhanced recovery capacity to five critically endangered frog species, the Southern Corroboree Frog, Northern Corroboree Frog, Stuttering Frog, Spotted Tree Frog and Baw Baw Frog.

Establish a world class Amphibian Centre at Melbourne Zoo that will allow for the delivery of climate-controlled environments (differing micro-climates for different species), the inclusion of nocturnal settings to maximize the visitor experience, whilst meeting biosecurity requirements for conservation/reintroduction.

Start-up costs $3.4 million

Recurrent costs $130,000 (over 3 years)

Total cost (over 5 years): $3.79 million

DEVELOPINg AN EMERgENCy RESPONSE FOR ThE guThEgA AND ALPINE ShE-OAk SkINkS

The Alpine She-oak Skink (Cyclodomorphus praealtus) and Guthega Skink (Liopholis guthega) are at a high risk of extinction due to a range of factors, including climate change. During the past decade, populations have been affected by several bushfires in the Victorian Alps, leaving small isolated populations.

Very little is currently known about the captive husbandry requirements of either species. Field biologists monitoring these threatened species have identified a potential need to rescue populations following future bushfires as the loss of vegetation cover exposes surviving skinks to predators.

In 2011 Zoos Victoria embarked on a research project to develop methods whereby threatened alpine skinks could be salvaged following major bushfires, held in captivity until habitat conditions recover in the wild, and then re-released.

To establish the captive husbandry requirements of the Guthega Skink, a climate-controlled shipping container is required at Healesville Sanctuary. This will enable the species’ seasonal micro-climate requirements to be determined. In addition, the suitability of outdoor enclosures capable of housing significant numbers of animals (that might be rescued after bushfires) will be investigated.

The following critical next steps will enable Healesville Sanctuary to move forward knowing that we are doing everything we can to prevent the extinction of these species:

Develop an emergency response strategy for alpine skinks following catastrophic events such as bushfire. This captures the recurrent capacity required to maintain this research. $58,000 p.a

Install a new climate controlled facility at Healesville Sanctuary to allow for both skinks to be housed separately as preliminary research indicates that they require different hibernation and breeding conditions. $140,000

Scope the micro-climate requirements (and changing seasonal requirements) of alpine species as well as the potential to establish outdoor enclosures during winter. $40,000

Total costs (over 5 years): $470,000


INSECTS ThE ONE WE NEARLy LOST

There are more species of insects on earth than there are any other animal. They are often the foundation from which the surrounding ecosystem thrives. A solid food source for others and intricately linked themselves to the environment around them, we owe much to these species that are often overlooked in regards to conservation efforts. Although this group of species presents a richness unseen in other groups, the impact of humans, changing environments and invasive species puts this largely understudied group of animals in clear threat. On Lord Howe Island, a stick insect with the same name once thrived. It kept the island in balance, feeding on native vegetation and providing essential nutrients to the vast populations of seabirds that also called the island home. Once thought extinct, Zoos Victoria were able to bring this species back from the brink after a small population were located clinging to a rocky outcrop 23km from the coast of Lord Howe Island. Whilst Zoos Victoria has specialised expertise in working with terrestrial vertebrates which guide the bulk of our conservation investment, a small group of expert and passionate entomologists based at Melbourne Zoo have seized the chance to resurrect this species and reinstate the Lord Howe Island Stick Insect to its former glory.


PREPARINg ThE LORD hOWE ISLAND STICk INSECT FOR A RETuRN TO ThE WILD

Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (LHISI)(Dryococelus australis) is one of the world’s most critically endangered invertebrate species. It was believed to have become extinct in the 1930’s following the unintentional introduction of Black Rats (Rattus rattus) onto Lord Howe Island (LHI). However, in 2001 it was rediscovered on Ball’s Pyramid, a rat-free volcanic outcrop, some 20km off the coast of LHI. The population was very small (less than 35 animals), supported by only a cluster of Melaleuca bushes, and has not been surveyed since 2007.

Two breeding pairs were collected in 2003, and since that time a captive population has been maintained successfully at Melbourne Zoo for over ten generations. This population is critical to ensuring that the species does not become extinct and is available to support future reintroduction to Lord Howe Island.

Reintroduction of the species to LHI will require the complete removal of the rats. This eradication program is scheduled for 2016, though reintroduction of the LHISI would be unlikely before 2018. Consequently, it is imperative that the insurance population remains healthy and that we continue to learn more about the biology of this insect to optimise the likelihood of successful reintroduction.

The following actions are therefore of high priority over the next five years.

Secure Zoos Victoria’s insurance population to allow for the on-going maintenance of the captive insurance population at Melbourne Zoo. $80,000 p.a

Upgrade the climate control system for LHISI glass houses 5 and 6 to replace the current aging and out-dated system in the two glasshouses used to support all breeding of the LHISI. $25,000

Collect new LHISI individuals from Ball’s Pyramid to enhance the genetic health of the insurance population. $15,000

Improve management of the captive LHISI population and inform future releases by determining and comparing the genetic characteristics of (i) the captive population (ii) the Ball’s Pyramid population and (iii) the original LHISI population (from museum specimens). $25,000

Total cost over 5 years: $465,000

‘by uSINg A SIMPLE METhOD TO STORE ThE gENETIC DIVERSITy OF ANIMALS NOW, WE ARE LEADINg AN ExCITINg AND PROACTIVE ChARgE FOR ThE FuTuRE OF OuR MOST ENDANgERED SPECIES. ONE DAy, I hOPE WE CAN RESTORE DIVERSITy LOST ThROugh TIME. IT IS NOT SCIENCE FICTION ANyMORE, buT A REAL WAy TO hELP SAFEguARD ThE hEALTh, FITNESS AND LONg-TERM SuRVIVAL OF SPECIES TOO PRECIOuS TO LOSE.’DR MARISSA PARROT, REPRODuCTIVE bIOLOgIST, ZOOS VICTORIA

CRyOPRESERVATION PRESERVINg gENETIC MATERIAL bEFORE IT’S TOO LATE

A key threat to each of our priority threatened species is a loss of genetic diversity and subsequent fitness. Once genetic diversity is lost it is usually irretrievable and significantly decreases a species’ recovery potential. Significant numbers of alleles can be lost quickly due to catastrophic events (fire, disease) and while recovery actions and captive breeding are being implemented.

Storing genetic material (eg DNA) provides us with critically important samples for research and the ability to track changes over time to assist with recovery planning. By storing reproductive material (gametes) from critically endangered species, like our frogs, there is potential to reinstate lost diversity in the future.

Zoos Victoria currently work in partnership with the Animal Gene Resource and Storage Centre of Australia and the Melbourne Museum to store genetic material and learn more about cryopreservation advances. Establishing our own ultra-low temperature freezer onsite will provide us with a unique opportunity to expand these existing partnerships and our capacity to benefit from this emerging area of science.

By preserving genetic material in freezers that can hold tens of thousands of samples from endangered species within our care (prioritizing our Fighting Extinction species, but also including globally threatened species such as tree-kangaroos, Broad-headed Snakes, gorillas and rhinoceros), Zoos Victoria has the potential to demonstrate a level of forward planning and commitment to long-term conservation that is well aligned with our aspirations to be a world leading zoo-based conservation organisation.

Cryopreservation start-up costs (includes purchasing freezer). $22,000

Estimated recurrent costs. $3,300 p.a


MELbOuRNE ZOO NOCTuRNAL hOuSE – ShARINg ThE FIghTINg ExTINCTION jOuRNEy

Zoos are incredible story tellers. Each year, more than 1.2 million people flock to Melbourne Zoo to experience, discover and learn more about our world’s incredible biodiversity. Whilst our conservation work focuses heavily on securing species at risk of extinction closest to home, at present there are very few opportunities for Melbourne Zoo visitors to experience our local wildlife.

Nocturnal houses are a popular and important part of a zoo experience. Many species, especially Australian mammals, are nocturnal and cannot be seen by viewers during normal zoo hours. By having a dedicated nocturnal house with reversed light cycles, species such as the Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Tasmanian Devil, Smoky Mouse, New Holland Mouse and Lord Howe Island Stick Insect, as well as non-Fighting Extinction collection species, can be displayed. By enabling our visitors to experience these amazing threatened species and understand the threats to their survival, we can mobilize our community to love their locals and act to secure their future.

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Design and construct a nocturnal house at Melbourne Zoo to allow visitors to appreciate and support the conservation of these fascinating species. $2.5 million

Ongoing recurrent funding to support Nocturnal House operations including two full-time keepers, veterinary care, food, power and consumables. $150,000 (2 years)


INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION COMMITMENT

Zoos Victoria has supported wildlife conservation overseas since the early 1990s. We now partner with three international conservation organisations committed to achieving biodiversity outcomes through partnership agreements, and collaborative research projects.

We are proud of the outcomes that we have achieved in our 20 year partnership with the Mabuwaya Foundation, significantly increasing the population of the world’s rarest crocodile, the Philippine Crocodile, from less than 20 individuals to more than 200 animals in the wild, as well as expanding the number of crocodile protection zones to secure this species.

We will build upon the successes that we have celebrated across Northern Kenya in collaboration with Melako Community Conservancy. Together we are supporting sustainable livelihoods for hundreds of families that share the arid rangelands with the critically endangered Grevy’s Zebra, while also working with warriors and community schools to implement a soccer program to promote and protect the endemic Beisa Oryx.

Through our International Partnerships and sister zoo project we will continue to work to protect and conserve some of our world’s rarest and most precious biodiversity in Papua New Guinea.

In addition to our work in Kenya, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea, we also deliver an International Conservation Grants program to boost capacity in areas where conservation intervention is desperately needed (such as supporting work to reduce human-lion conflict in Namibia and helping to prevent the extinction of one of the world’s rarest primates, the Northern Sportive Lemur in Madagascar).

We remain committed to innovative approaches, including eco-socio trials to save wildlife. Zoos Victoria will continue to expand upon these inspiring achievements to increase our overall impact in Fighting Extinction.



FIghTINg ThE ExTINCTION OF ThE PhILIPPINE CROCODILE

The Philippines biodiversity is a globally significant conservation priority, on a par with Madagascar and the Galapagos. It is also a country with more threatened endemic species than almost any other country in the world. One such species is the Philippine Crocodile (Crocodylus mindorensis).

The Northern Sierra Madre region in the north of Luzon Island is arguably one of the most vulnerable areas to conserve. The only wild population of the Philippine Crocodile that can be accessed and protected occurs in this area and is the primary focus of Zoos Victoria’s conservation partner in the Philippines, the Mabuwaya Foundation.

A major factor in the ongoing recovery of this population, from less than 20 to now more than 200 wild animals is the head-start project, which grows young crocodiles to a size that enables them to withstand the impacts of typhoons. This program was established in 2005, using an existing farm shed. With the increasing success of the conservation program, and public visitation to the Rearing Station, this facility needs significant expansion and upgrading. This project seeks to deliver that, and supports local government interest in increasing tourism into the area – using the fact that this is the only area in the Philippines where the world’s most endangered crocodile can be easily seen. This conservation intervention will improve animal husbandry practices, captive breeding outputs and community engagement outcomes all of which are critical to the survival of the species.

Critical next steps include:

Boosting the capacity of the head-start program (including education and community engagement program). $20,000 p.a

Securing and protecting four new crocodile zones in the Sierra Madre Region. $25,000 p.a

Develop the new Northern Luzon Biodiversity Research and Conservation Centre. $50,000

Crocodile biodiversity surveys. $5,000 p.a

Develop the existing Municipal Philippine Crocodile Rearing Station in San Mariano into a multi-purpose Philippine Crocodile Visitor Centre. $40,000


PROTECTINg ThE CRITICALLy ENDANgERED gREVy’S ZEbRA

The Melako Community Conservancy is Zoos Victoria’s conservation partner located in Northern Kenya, facilitated by the Northern Rangelands Trust. The conservancy is home to the world’s most endangered Zebra species, the Grevy Zebra (Equus grevyi). Melako’s wildlife scouts currently achieve a great deal with very little. However increasing pressures from the development of new roads, the discovery of oil in the region as well as neighbouring conflict are mounting, and additional measures are required to effectively combat poaching and monitor and protect wildlife.

Over the next two years Zoos Victoria will work with our conservation partners to establish critical infrastructure that will enhance staff safety and deliver benefits to both people and wildlife. Support the wages of 26 Melako Scouts

each year to assist with anti-poaching efforts. $50,000 p.a

Trial eco-socio project to reduce human wildlife conflict. $25,000

Build scout accommodation at the current base in the south of the Lichoroo Conservancy. $7,000

Build scout patrol outpost at Soriadi. $30,000

Install radio tower and enabling equipment (base station, radios, etc.) at Soriadi. $17,000

Install six large community billboards profiling the Conservancy. $3,000

Replace worn-out field equipment for scouts (tents, waterpacks etc.). $9,000




PROjECT TIMELINES

Project Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 Total $

Secure Zoos Victoria’s Eastern Barred Bandicoot (EBB) captive breeding program 285,000 285,000 285,000 285,000 285,000 1,425,000

Upgrade the Melbourne Zoo EBB facility 110,000 - - - 110,000

Appoint an EBB Project Officer to coordinate breeding and recovery 80,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 40,000 360,000

Fence Tiverton Station for EBB release 500,000 100,000 - - - 600,000

Release EBB onto Phillip Island - 30,000 65,000 20,000 15,000 130,000

Release the EBB onto French Island - - 145,000 145,000 30,000 320,000

Instate a dual purpose guardian dog program 120,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 115,000 580,000

Introduce a mobile drone EBB monitoring system - - 25,000 5,000 5,000 35,000

Mountain Pygmy-possum captive breeding program 154,000 96,000 - - - 250,000

Secure Zoos Victoria’s Tasmanian Devil captive breeding efforts 674,508 674,508 674,508 674,508 674,508 3,372,540

Conduct an independent review assessing risk and feasibility of Devil mainland introduction 30,000 - - - - 30,000

Upgrade Melbourne Zoo’s ‘Mouse House’ facility 13,000 - - - - 13,000

Building Smoky Mouse husbandry skills and capacity 33,000 33,000 33,000 33,000 33,000 165,000

Display the Smoky Mouse at Melbourne Zoo’s Keeper Kids - 15,000 - - - 15,000

Conduct research to develop release protocols for the Smoky Mouse to the wild - - 21,000 21,000 21,000 63,000

Instate three Zoos Victoria fellowship positions to monitor Smoky Mouse release to the wild - - 8,000 8,000 8,000 24,000

Yellingbo habitat restoration to create new release localities within the reserve 300,000 300,000 40,000 - - 640,000

Construct a new breeding facility using Yellow-tufted Honeyeaters 60,000 7,500 21,000 101,000 22,000 211,500

Restore Coranderrk Bushland to support free-ranging populations of threatened species 168,000 234,000 234,000 234,000 234,000 1,104,000

Haining Farm habitat restoration - 200,000 200,000 - - 400,000

Scope the development of a threatened species predator avoidance training centre at Healesville Sanctuary 30,000 - - - - 30,000

Maintain the current Heho insurance population and captive breeding at Healesville Sanctuary 246,281 246,281 246,281 246,281 246,281 1,231,405

Initiate a Lowland LBP captive insurance population at Healesville Sanctuary 129,806 129,806 129,806 129,806 129,806 649,030

Commence field monitoring for the New Holland Mouse 30,000 30,000 - - - 60,000

Establish a Fighting Extinction dog program 173,000 173,000 173,000 173,000 173,000 865,000

Establish a free-ranging Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby insurance population - 200,000 40,000 95,000 95,000 430,000



Assessing whether the Eastern Quoll triggers Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction intervention 30,000 - - - - 30,000

Obtain Southern Bent-wing Bat estimates and population trends in Starlight Cave 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 300,000

Restore caves on private land for Southern Bent-wing Bats 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 150,000

Construct four new Regent Honeyeater aviaries - 175,000 - - - 175,000

Secure Zoos Victoria’s current Orange-bellied Parrot (OBP) captive breeding efforts 231,000 231,000 231,000 231,000 231,000 1,155,000

Construct additional OBP breeding facilities to increase No. of birds for release 300,000 380,000 - - - 680,000

Construction of a pre-release holding and conditioning aviary at Werribee Open Range Zoo 425,000 - - - - 425,000

Support annual OBP releases to the wild 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 150,000

Provision of funds for effective OBP program co-ordination by recovery team 45,000 45,000 45,000 45,000 45,000 225,000

Implementation of new OBP monitoring technology - 125,000 - - - 125,000

Secure current Southern Corroboree Frog (SCF) annual captive breeding and release efforts 98,000 98,000 98,000 98,000 98,000 490,000

Increase captive production of SCF eggs, including disease testing and monitoring of developing frogs 150,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 750,000

Construct and maintain two additional large disease-free field enclosures in Mt Kosciuszko National Park 250,000 - - - - 250,000

Construct and maintain 20 small disease-free field enclosures in Mt Kosciuszko National Park 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 100,000

Develop the application of assisted reproductive technologies for SCF 140,000 140,000 140,000 140,000 140,000 700,000

Conduct research to identify SCF traits associated with a more robust immune response to the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus 99,600 99,600 99,600 99,600 99,600 498,000

Appoint field staff to assist with ongoing population monitoring and interventions 180,000 180,000 180,000 180,000 180,000 900,000

Construct and maintain one large in situ enclosure for Northern Corroboree Frogs in Namadgi National Park - - 325,000 - - 325,000

Crack the code to breeding the Baw Baw Frog 63,920 63,920 63,920 63,920 63,920 319,600

Maintain the Spotted Tree Frog insurance population 69,000 69,000 69,000 69,000 69,000 345,000

Conduct research to determine whether the Stuttering Frog and the Grassland Earless Dragon still occur in Victoria 50,000 - - - - 50,000

Undertake genetic research for Stuttering Frog and Grassland Earless Dragon 16,000 - - - - 16,000

Establish a world class Amphibian Centre at Melbourne Zoo - 3,400,000 130,000 130,000 13,0000 3,790,000



Develop an emergency response strategy for alpine skinks 58,000 58,000 58,000 58,000 58,000 290,000

Install a new climate controlled facility at Healesville Sanctuary 140,000 - - - - 140,000

Scope the micro-climate requirements (and changing seasonal requirements) of alpine species - 40,000 - - - 40,000

Secure Zoos Victoria’s Lord Howe Island Stick Insect (LHISI) insurance population 80,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 400,000

Upgrade the climate control system for the LHISI glass houses 5 and 6 at Melbourne Zoo 25,000 - - - - 25,000

Collection new LHISI individuals from Ball’s Pyramid to enhance the genetic health of the insurance population - 15,000 - - - 15,000

Improve management of the captive LHISI population through genetic research - 25,000 - - - 25,000

Establish Fighting Extinction Cryopreservation 25,300 3,300 3,300 3,300 3,300 38,500

Design and construct a nocturnal house at Melbourne Zoo and funding to support operations - 500,000 2,000,000 150,000 150,000 2,800,000

Boost capacity of Philippine Crocodile head-start program 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 100,000

Securing four new crocodile protection zones Sierra Madre 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 125,000

Develop Northern Luzon Biodiversity Research and Conservation Centre - 50,000 - - - 50,000

Crocodile biodiversity surveys 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 25,000

Develop the existing municipal Philippine Crocodile rearing station in San Mariano into a multi-purpose Philippine Crocodile visitor centre - 20,000 20,000 - - 40,000

Support the wages of 26 Melako Scouts each year to assist with anti-poaching efforts 50,000 50,000 - - - 100,000

Trial eco-socio project (kicking goals for wildlife) to reduce human wildlife conflict 25,000 - - - - 25,000

Build Scout accommodation at the current base in the south of the Lichoroo Conservancy 7,000 - - - - 7,000

Build Scout patrol outpost at Soriadi - 30,000 - - - 30,000

Install radio tower and enabling equipment (base station, radios, etc.) at Soriadi - 17,000 - - - 17,000

Install six large community billboards profiling the Melako Community Conservancy within Melako 3,000 - - - - 3,000

Replace worn-out field equipment for Melako scouts (tents, water packs etc.) 9,000 - - - - 9,000

Total 5,896,415 9,183,915 6,418,415 4,053,415 3,814,415 29,366,575

Melbourne Zoo PO Box 74 Parkville Victoria 3052

Elliott Avenue Parkville Victoria

Tel: 61 3 9285 9300 Fax: 61 3 9285 9330

Healesville Sanctuary PO Box 248 Healesville Victoria 3777

Badger Creek Road Healesville Victoria

Tel: 61 3 5957 2800 Fax: 61 3 5957 2870

Werribee Open Range Zoo PO Box 460 Werribee Victoria 3030

K Road Werribee Victoria

Tel: 61 3 9731 9600 Fax: 61 3 9731 9644

Zoos Victoria PO Box 74 Parkville Victoria 3052

Elliott Avenue Parkville Victoria

Tel: 61 3 9340 2702 Fax: 61 3 9340 2795

Email: [email protected]

ABN 96 913 959 053

www.zoo.org.au

Photos: Chris Banks, Trent Browning, Max Deliopoulos, ©Jean-Paul Ferrero/AUSCAPE, Damian Goodall, Raelene Hobbs, Jeremy Holden, ©Joel Sartore/www.joelsartore.com

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2014-19 zoos victoria wildlife conservation master plan · zoos victoria wildlife conservation...

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