Northern bettongs will be relocated to save a tiny population near Mount Carbine from extinction – in the first rescue mission between two wild populations of this species.

Less than 30 northern bettongs are left at Mt Spurgeon, near the small town of Mount Carbine, west of Port Douglas. The species is listed as endangered, with only two wild populations and one re-introduced population remaining, all of them in North Queensland.

A “genetic rescue”

Terrain NRM’s Dr Andrew Dennis said the translocation project aims to be a “genetic rescue”.

“We need diversity in the gene pool. The Mt Spurgeon population is so small now that they are genetically inbred,’’ he said.

“That has led to an inbreeding depression, with females producing fewer babies than in healthy populations and to the population not being able to cope with other pressures like feral animals and lantana weed taking over large parts of the habitat. They can’t breed fast enough to keep up.”

Terrain NRM has secured $420,000 from the Australian Government through its Natural Heritage Trust program to partner with the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Gulf Savannah NRM on the translocation project, which is guided by the Northern Bettong Recovery Team.

It follows the successful reintroduction of northern bettongs to the Paluma region, where they have been breeding up over the last year in Mount Zero-Taravale Wildlife Sanctuary, a fenced predator-free tract of land. Forty-nine northern bettongs were moved from Lamb Range near Mareeba to the sanctuary in the AWC-led partnership project, funded by AWC with the support of the Queensland Government and Traditional Owners.

Relocation to an existing community

“This time about seven northern bettongs will be relocated, and it’ll be to an existing population,’’ Dr Dennis said. “We want to improve the genetic make-up by 30 per cent, to take reproduction up to normal rates.”

‘Genetic rescues’ are gaining momentum in threatened species conservation across Australia. The first was for mountain pygmy possums in Victoria in 2010. They’ve since helped the eastern-barred bandicoot, helmeted honeyeaters and rock wallabies.

Weed and pest control work

Dr Dennis said the northern bettong project would include weed and pest control work at Mt Spurgeon National Park in the lead-up, to prepare the habitat for the bettong population to re-expand. This will be followed by population monitoring for at least two years after the bettongs are translocated.

“We will be surveying the area and controlling feral animals, including pigs and cats, over a few hundred hectares of land,’’ he said. “We’ll also be removing lantana, which is suppressing food sources for bettongs. This work will build on years of survey and monitoring work by AWC and Western Yalanji Traditional owners, with the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and Gulf Savannah NRM.

At least seven northern bettongs have been killed by road strike on far northern roads in the last two months, placing additional pressure on an already stressed population.

The endangered macropod is under threat from habitat degradation, which is why Terrain NRM’s Dr Andrew Dennis says the latest news is so concerning.

“Given the small population size and restricted distribution, every individual counts. Almost 1% of the remaining core population has been killed by vehicles this year, and there are likely to be additional road kills not observed, so this percentage could be even higher.”

The road strikes have occurred on the Kennedy Highway between Clohesy River and Davies Creek, and on the Danbulla Road near Tinaroo Falls Dam.

The Northern Bettong Recovery Team is currently in consultation with the Department of Main Roads and Transport about the road kills and mitigation.

Dr Sandra Abell chairs the Northern Bettong Recovery Team and is urging drivers to exercise caution.

“We know that night driving is unavoidable for many people, but if it’s safe to do so, please slow down if you see an animal crossing the road. We cannot afford to lose more bettongs,” said Dr Abell.

Two out of four northern bettong populations have disappeared in the last 25 years, and the species is now restricted to two locations: Mt Spurgeon in the Carbine Tablelands, and between Koah and Tinaroo in the Lamb Range. Estimates put the total population at around 1000 individuals.

Aside from the road kills, Dr Dennis says the Lamb Range population is generally doing well: “Most habitat is in protected areas, and lots of groups have worked hard over the last 20 years to remove threats like feral animals and weeds”.

The Wet Tropics’ endangered northern bettong will be better protected through a new project, announced this week.

With an estimated 1000 northern bettongs remaining, Far Northerners are banding together to help the elusive marsupial which is only found in the Mareeba area and is known for its love of native truffles.

The $170,000 project, funded by the Australian Government, aims to improve habitat for northern bettongs outside national park land.

Northern Bettong Project coordinator Chelsy Maloney from Terrain NRM said activities would include cool burns by traditional owners in northern bettong habitat and work with landholders on land management practices in potential bettong areas.

Terrain NRM will also be working with the Northern Bettong Recovery Team including James Cook University researchers, Queensland Parks and Wildlife officers, the World Wildlife Fund, Bush Heritage and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Recovery Team Chair Sandra Abell said the project “filled a gap” in the recovery of this species.

“The focus has largely been on protected areas like in national parks,’’ Dr Abell said. “Getting landowners involved will be a huge step towards potentially increasing bettong habitat.”

She said the northern bettong population had dramatically declined over the past 20 to 30 years.
The only known populations now were in the Lamb Range and Mt Spurgeon areas.

“Their habitat is very restricted – in some places it is only 6km wide,’’ she said. “Bettongs need cockatoo grass, especially in the dry season, and activities like cool burns help to stop woodlands from thickening and maintain grassy understoreys.”