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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 31(1)

Surviving quokka (Setonix brachyurus) population on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia

Elizabeth A. Sinclair A B D and Bridget M. Hyder C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Science Directorate, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, Fraser Avenue, West Perth, WA 6005, Australia.

B School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.

C Terrestrial Ecosystems Branch, Department of Environment and Conservation, St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: esinclair@iinet.net.au

Australian Mammalogy 31(1) 67-69 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM09002
Submitted: 12 December 2008  Accepted: 27 February 2009   Published: 16 April 2009

Abstract

A survey of the Muddy Lakes area on the Swan Coastal Plain was carried out to determine the presence of quokkas. Extensive on-ground searches found a carcass, juvenile skull, and fresh scats, which were identified as belonging to quokka, using DNA analyses. This is currently the only known population remaining on the coastal plain.


Acknowledgements

This survey was funded by The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage, and the Arts, Canberra, and the Terrestrial Ecosystems Branch of the Department of Environment and Conservation, WA. Our thanks to M. Gehrmann (DPI Perth), and B. Edwards (BeMax) for organising access to the area; P. Orell and P. Mawson (DEC), H. Mills and P. Withers (UWA) for field equipment; G. Porter and J. Dell (DEC), E. Manea (Bunbury), J. Harrison (DEC), and I. Carne (Landcare Management) for informative discussions; N. Swarts (BGPA) for clearing traps when B. Hyder was unavailable; R. A. How and C. Stevenson (WA Museum). Trapping was carried out under DEC licence (#SF006165). Finally, a special thanks to J. Holmes (DEWHA) for continued support during this project.


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