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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 31(1)

Trial translocation of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) into arid Australia

Adam J. Bester A B C and Karen Rusten A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Arid Recovery, PO Box 150, Roxby Downs, SA 5725, Australia.

B University of Adelaide, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: Adam.Bester@bhpbilliton.com

Australian Mammalogy 31(1) 9-16 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM08104
Submitted: 15 May 2008  Accepted: 13 December 2008   Published: 11 March 2009

Abstract

Five numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus) were transferred into the Arid Recovery Reserve in November 2005 as part of a trial to investigate the suitability of the reserve for a full-scale reintroduction of M. fasciatus. Mean home ranges in this study were 67 ha in summer and 25 ha in autumn/winter. This is similar to home ranges of M. fasciatus at other locations. M. fasciatus used burrows despite available log habitat and were active in air temperatures of 21−30°C and soil temperatures of 21−42°C during the autumn/winter period. M. fasciatus used ‘mulga’, ‘sanddune vegetation’, ‘bullock bush’ and ‘cypress pine’ more often than ‘saltbush/bluebush’ and other available habitats. They were also found more extensively on ‘dunes’ or ‘sand plain’ landforms than on ‘swales’. Two males were still alive 18 months after release; the other three were taken by an unknown bird of prey. We suggest that another trial be undertaken with a larger sample size to determine whether females are able to wean young and whether Arid Recovery is able to sustain a viable population of M. fasciatus.

Additional keyword: habitat use.


Acknowledgements

This project was conducted by Arid Recovery, a joint conservation initiative between BHP Billiton, the SA Department of Environment and Heritage, The University of Adelaide and the Friends of Arid Recovery. We thank Tony Friend for his valuable advice with this project. AWC Scotia Sanctuary staff (particularly Joss Bentley) were of great assistance with logistics and provided us with the five M. fasciatus for this trial. We also thank Friends of Arid Recovery members for assistance with fieldwork and WWF – TSN, Landcare Australia and Banrock Station for funding of this trial.


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