WA's Woylie Survival

In collaboration with the Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife, nongovernment organisations (Whiteman Park Reserve, Native Animal Rescue) and volunteers, they completed approximately two years of intensive fieldwork involving captive, free-ranging and wild woylie populations at rehabilitation facilities, in reserves, national parks and state forests.

The trapping efforts were successful with a total of over 300 individual woylies trapped, examined and sampled over the course of the study.

The study was expanded to include more individuals, samples and sites as the project progressed. In addition, they built capacity, training students and volunteers in wildlife field research skills.

This project involved a few exciting “firsts”. The first study of how well woylies’ immune system works, the first long-term study of what factors influence stress hormones in woylies and the first time looked at how woylies’ respond to conservation activities like moving them from one place to another and also natural disasters like bushfires.

When gathering material to build their dome shaped nest, Woylies carry it curled up in their prehensile tail. This leaves their hands free for snacks they find on their way back to the nest site such as underground fungi or truffles!

Thanks to support from colleagues, collaborators and generous supporters of FNPW, they’ve provided unique and important information to help the conservation of critically endangered.