Aussie Ark Conservation

WIRES has partnered with Aussie Ark to support threatened wildlife and assist with the long-term species conservation of a significant number of native species at risk of extinction. 

As part of WIRES mission to preserve Australian wildlife WIRES is providing Aussie Ark over 1 million dollars to support 15 critical species recovery programs and 3 habitat projects over 3 years.

Aussie Ark is an independent initiative committed to the conservation of Australia’s most imperilled species. Based in the NSW Barrington Tops, Aussie Ark’s vision is to establish robust insurance populations for a wide range of threatened native mammal species. The Aussie Ark conservation projects align with WIRES plans to support the long-term recovery of threatened native species in the aftermath of recent emergency events.

“The rate of decline of so many native animal species is nothing short of alarming,” says WIRES CEO Leanne Taylor. “We are so grateful that organisations such as Aussie Ark are committed to making a difference. Their efforts in protecting Australia’s rich fauna diversity will help ensure our unique native wildlife is sustained for future generations.”

Australia has the highest rate of mammal extinction rate in the world – one in three mammal extinctions in the last 400 years has occurred in Australia. An additional 21% are predicted to be extinct at a rate of one to two species per decade without swift conservation action.

WIRES funding will be distributed across the following species recovery and habitat programs:

Species Recovery Programs

Koala – species status vulnerable
Projects include bio mapping, disease prevention mapping, habitat mapping and monitoring 

Tasmanian Devil - species status endangered 
Projects include - wild release and post release monitoring and management

Spotted-tail Quoll – species status near threatened
Assist with costs of the construction of enclosures and population monitoring 

Brushed-tailed rock wallaby - species status vulnerable
Assist with costs of the construction of enclosures and population monitoring

Rufous bettong - species status vulnerable
Projects include - wild release and post release monitoring and management

Broad toothed rat - species status endangered 
Projects include – breeding programs, sanctuary reintroduction and wild release 

Eastern quoll - species status endangered
Projects include - wild release and post release monitoring and management

Hunter River turtle - species status endangered
Project includes wild population conservation initiatives

Greater glider - species status vulnerable
Project includes – population surveys and installation of next boxes

Hastings River mouse - species status vulnerable
Projects include – breeding programs, population research and wild release 

Long-nosed potoroo - species status near threatened
Projects include – breeding programs, sanctuary reintroduction and wild release 

Manning River turtle - species status endangered 
Project includes wild population conservation initiatives

Davis Tree Frog - species status vulnerable
Project includes – establish breeding facility and research

Parma wallaby -- species status vulnerable
Project includes – expand breeding facility and research

Spiny crayfish - species status vulnerable
Project includes – establish breeding facility and surveillance systems

Habitat Programs

Rewilding – this involves all the elements of supporting successful reintroduction of selected species into managed fenced sanctuaries.

Fire Management – proactive fire management to promote regrowth and large-scale protection for 6,000 hectares of critical habitat.

Bio mapping – understand and determine biodiversity of sanctuaries