National Recovery Plan for the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby

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Recovery Information

Current Conservation Initiatives

The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby has been the subject of considerable management attention for several decades, and a number of conservation initiatives have been implemented. Regional recovery teams have been established in Victoria and New South Wales to coordinate implementation of recovery actions. Current recovery actions are discussed below.

Planning

A considerable amount of planning has been undertaken for recovery of the species. Nationally, a research recovery plan was prepared (Hill 1991) and partially implemented (Wong et al. 1994). A number of documents have been prepared and plans implemented at the state/territory level:

Victoria – Action Statement (Hill & Baker-Gabb 1991); field management strategies (Waldegrave-Knight & Stevens 2003, DSE 2008); captive management plan (Andrews et al. 2009); re-introduction strategy (Delaney et al. 2005); reintroduction site assessment (Taggart et al. 2008); a reintroduction plan for the Grampians National Park (Bramwell et al. 2008), and a husbandry manual (Dobroszczyk 2007).
New South Wales – State Recovery Plan (DECC 2008); recovery plan for the population in the Warrumbungle National Park (NPWS 2003); captive management plan for animals of central ESU provenance (ARAZPA 2005).
Australian Capital Territory – Action Plan (EACT 1999)

Surveys and Monitoring

Surveys of historical and current Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby sites have been conducted across its range (e.g. Close et al. 1988; Lobert & Waters 1988; Reside & Martin 1997; Capararo 1998; Waldegrave-Knight & Cunningham 1999). Regular monitoring of East Gippsland populations was established in 2000 and remote cameras have been used there since 2005. Colonies in the Shoalhaven (including Kangaroo Valley), Hunter Valley and Wollemi National Park have been closely monitored since 1998 (Piggott et al. 2006a). Colonies in the Warrumbungle Range have been surveyed many times since 1993 (NPWS 2003), and the Jenolan caves colony has been monitored since 1999 (D. Ashworth pers. comm. 2010). Periodic assessment of populations has been undertaken in south-eastern Queensland since 1999 (DERM unpubl. data 2003). A major advance in population monitoring was the development of DNA analysis of faecal pellets (Piggott et al. 2006a, b). These techniques have been used to estimate population size, reproductive success and movements (Piggott et al. 2006a, b). The DNA analysis of faecal pellets is being used in combination with trapping and remote cameras at both populations in Victoria to gain important information on movement and survival of individuals (M. Bramwell, pers. comm. 2010). The DNA analysis of faecal pellets is being used in combination with radio tracking and remote cameras at all release sites in NSW (Shoalhaven, Jenolan Caves and Wurrumbungle) to monitor survival, movement and successful breeding (D. Ashworth, pers. comm. 2010).

Predator Control

In NSW, fox control programs to protect the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby are being conducted at a number of sites including Kangaroo Valley, Warrumbungle National Park, Jenolan Caves Karst Conservation Reserve, Wollemi National Park (Wolgan River, Bulga to Durie, Kandos to Capertee, Baerami and Widden Valley), Yengo National Park (Growee Gulph, Nulla Mountain), Goulburn River National Park and near Attunga in the New England area. In Victoria, fox control is occurring in both East Gippsland and the Grampians.

Competitor control

In Warrumbungle National Park, Jenolan Caves, and Nattai National Park, goats are being controlled in areas where Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies are found. Goat control is also occurring in the core Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby habitat of Oxley Wild Rivers National Park. Goats have not yet invaded all this area but may be expanding their range. Continuing goat control and preventing goat populations from expanding are priorities for the protection of this largest-known Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby population

Captive breeding

Southern ESU: Captive breeding for population supplementation and reintroductions is an important component of the recovery program. In Victoria, 16 animals (6 males, 10 females) from East Gippsland and the lone surviving animal in the Grampians were captured and used to establish a captive population. There have been 127 births in captivity (Andrews et al. 2009). The reproductive rate has been increased through the use of cross-fostering, a technique in which the young of the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby is fostered to the pouch of another wallaby (generally a Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby Petrogale xanthopus or Tammar Wallaby Macropus eugenii) allowing the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby female to breed again around 30 days later. There are currently 35 adult animals (19 males, 16 females) in the captive population housed in five captive institutions across south-eastern Australia, at Adelaide Zoo, Dunkeld Pastoral Company, Waite Institute, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve and Waterfall Springs Wildlife Sanctuary (Andrews et al. 2009).

Central ESU: The captive breeding population for the central ESU is currently derived from 19 animals taken from eight colonies from across the distribution of the Central ESU and four animals of ex-Kawau Island origin (New Zealand). Current population size is 45 animals (19 males, 26 females) (D. Ashworth pers. comm. 2010), housed in five captive institutions: Waterfall Springs Wildlife Sanctuary, Taronga Zoo and Western Plains Zoo (Taronga Conservation Society), Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuaryand Blackbutt Reserve.

Reintroduction/translocation

Southern ESU: In November 2005, two captive-bred male Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies were released into a colony in East Gippsland that comprised only two females (Bramwell & O’Neill 2005). Since the release, one female subsequently produced an offspring. This was confirmed to be a wild conception from one of the introduced males through genetic analysis of the offspring (M. Bramwells, pers. comm. 2010). In November 2008, six females and four males were reintroduced into the Grampians National Park, followed by three females and two males in August 2009. Four of the released animals have since died.

Central ESU: Since 2001, there have been nine separate releases of a total of 45 Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies to supplement declining colonies in the Shoalhaven, at Jenolan caves and in Warrumbungle National Park (D. Ashworth pers. comm. 2010). There have been mixed results from these releases and high variability in survival of released wallabies between sites and at the same site through time. However, of animals that have survived, many have established stable home ranges and some are successfully breeding with local resident animals (D. Ashworth pers. comm. 2010).

Genetic research

Rock-wallaby colonies are typically confined to discrete patches of suitable habitat, with limited opportunities for dispersal between them. This has provided a rich field for research into genetic population structuring and its implications for taxonomy and conservation management (e.g. Briscoe et al. 1982; Browning et al. 2001; Close et al. 1994; Eldridge & Close 1992, 1997; Piggott et al. 2006a,b; Sharman et al. 1990). Multifaceted genetic analyses of the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby have shown substantial genetic structuring, at multiple levels and geographic scales (Browning et al. 2001). Of particular importance from a strategic planning perspective is the identification of three distinct molecular lineages that constitute three separate Evolutionarily Significant Units. This research has provided a basis on which to make judgements about population management for the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby. The desirability of maintaining the genetic integrity of each of the three ESUs is a central factor in most objectives of this plan.

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