THE NEWSLETTER OF HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL S WILDLIFE LAND TRUST ISSUE 19, 2017

Transcription

1 Wildlife Lands 487 SANCTUARIES 60,000 HECTARES THE NEWSLETTER OF HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL S WILDLIFE LAND TRUST ISSUE 19, 2017 Above: Slender-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis murina) at WLT sanctuary Nature s Wonderland. Photo courtesy of the Thorondor family. The Australian contingent of the Wildlife Land Trust has experienced phenomenal growth with 62 new members joining since our previous Wildlife Lands. In welcoming these additions the WLT network now numbers 487 sanctuaries and covers nearly 60,000 hectares roughly four times the size of Sydney s Royal National Park. Aside from the (usual fantastic) advocacy by members spreading word of the WLT, much of this growth has come through our popular Sanctuaries You Can Stay program, with 30 sanctuaries that offer eco-accommodation now advertised through the WLT website. Speaking of which, by year end we ll have a much-improved website up so keep your eyes on wildlifelandtrust.org.au for all the latest in between editions of Wildlife Lands. And don t forget to follow our Facebook and Twitter profiles (see back cover for details) for exclusive WLT content and plenty of ecology and wildlife news. It s excellent to see private land conservation momentum growing, your efforts are inspirational. Evan Quartermain Head of Programs Helen Church Project Officer Australian sanctuary profiles NSW: Koala Gardens QLD: Wallaby Gully SA: Left Field Farm TAS: Ashburn VIC: Down to Earth Farm Retreat WA: Boronia Farm National sanctuaries map WLT programs Sanctuaries You Can Stay US Profile: Larson Wildlife Sanctuary Photography competition Ecological community profile Lowland Tropical Rainforest, Wet Tropics Threatened species profile Leadbeater s possum New member table WLT SECURES FIRST STEP TO PROTECTION FOR ENDANGERED CASSOWARY HABITAT OVERWHELMING COMPETITION RESPONSE UNEARTHS STUNNING WILDLIFE PHOTOS LEADBEATER S POSSUM: LOGGING THREAT TO VICTORIAN FAUNAL EMBLEM

2 Katrina Jeffery Koala Gardens NEW SOUTH WALES Koalas don t live in my backyard I live in theirs. People seem to have forgotten this critical perspective in our consumer-driven society. Only seven short years ago I thought this patch was paradise. Yet it was dead in comparison to what I have achieved. Thanks to a series of grants, nearly 1,000 native trees have been planted and a further 3,000 have been nurtured since self-sowing. I ve had a property management plan developed and professional regenerators attend the property and follow the plan. The involvement of professional regenerators has been key to decision-making and staying on track. To protect all this hard work, I signed a Conservation Agreement with the NSW Government in A further 350 trees have now been planted outside the conservation area on the property to grow leaf to supply to koalas in care at Friends of the Koala. In a short time the property has exploded with diverse wildlife, and the benefits to the koala population have been astounding. We know the koala is a vulnerable species and we know that habitat loss is the main cause of their demise. I track information about the koala colony and check the property over daily, using nose pattern recognition to identify individual koalas. With three years of data gathered some fascinating results are beginning to emerge. Sightings have massively increased WLT SANCTUARY OWNERS in the past six months but the most significant result is that the koala colony has stabilised. There are far less individuals on the property now but they are staying here, not just travelling through. This year has seen another two sources of funding secured to remove the last area of weed infestation and to establish nesting boxes for squirrel gliders and little lorikeets. Koala Gardens plans to become a model to assist people to develop sanctuaries. Finding the Wildlife Land Trust is a wonderful step towards this goal as we work together and realise we are not alone. For daily updates on koala activity at my place visit facebook.com/koalagardens Wallaby Gully is a lush 5 hectare sanctuary located around 45 km northwest of Townsville. We have been wildlife carers for over a decade, so when we came across Wallaby Gully we knew instantly it was the place for us. Not only does it provide a haven to raise and rehabilitate wildlife, it s also a lovely soft release-site, free from predators and with an abundance of underground water. Wallaby Gully is surrounded by larger properties also owned by wildlife-savvy residents, which encouraged us in our decision to apply to become a Wildlife Land Trust sanctuary. This interested us immediately, knowing we could provide a safe place for wildlife, whilst inspiring others to do the same and connecting to a network of like-minded landholders. We mostly raise kangaroos and wallabies, with a large, well-thoughtout pen dedicated to the staging of macropods prior to release. The transition is seamless, from being raised in pouches inside, to the staging pen for a taste of the outside world, to a graduated release over weeks out into the paddocks, animals can opt to stay in or out of the pen and explore as they wish, a true soft release. Since moving to Wallaby Gully, we have rehabilitated, staged and released more than 40 macropods and taken on many other species of hand-raised wildlife for release, some of which have come back to show us their very own joeys. We believe the abundance of water and safety of surrounding properties leads to the success and happiness of the animals here. We're always thrilled to see another hand-raised girl come back with a joey, or one of our larger males out in the paddock happily grazing as the alpha male of his mob. The newest member of Wallaby Gully arrived in August last year, a little baby girl named Victoria who is fast becoming much like us with her natural gentle ways around wildlife. We regularly sit in the paddock with Victoria to watch the sun set whilst quietly observing wildlife, our favourite pastime. Amy and Owen Langley Wallaby Gully QUEENSLAND 2 They return to show us their joeys

3 Roanna Horbelt Left Field Farm SOUTH AUSTRALIA Left Field Farm is a quirky little 40 hectare sanctuary on the stunning north coast of Kangaroo Island. With never-ending sea views, it is nestled between the two iconic beaches of Stokes Bay and Middle River and just up the road from Lathami Conservation Park, the principle feeding and breeding area of the island s endangered glossy black-cockatoo. I purchased Left Field Farm five years ago with the intention of expanding my Kangaroo Island wildlife rehabilitation and release programme, regenerating the vegetation back to its original state and offering a safe-haven for a variety of unwanted, injured or orphaned animals. It also acts as a soft release site for our local Kangaroo Island Wildlife Network and a refuge for six simply stunning Australian brumbies. As a long time eco-tour guide with Kangaroo Island Wilderness Tours, I also intend to introduce accommodation in the form of a couple of cosy, low-impact yurts in the near future. Owing to its isolation from the mainland, Kangaroo Island is the perfect place for Wildlife Land Trust sanctuaries to flourish. More than one third (2,250 km 2 ) of native old growth is already preserved by National Parks, conservation parks and wilderness protection areas. And the wildlife, both on land and in the ocean, is prolific. Kangaroo Island is also the latest drawcard on the tourism and investment agenda of many business entities. Direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne will soon be introduced, and large-scale developments are planned. So now, more than ever, it is critical for local private property custodians to seek out programs like the Wildlife Land Trust; to join communities with the preservation and conservation of our remarkable biodiversity in mind and to learn from others experiences. Not a day goes by that I am not eternally grateful that this wonderful piece of land and I somehow managed to find each other. And I m immensely looking forward to protecting it in the interests of its inhabitants for future generations. Safe-haven for unwanted and injured The Walker Family property, Ashburn, spans 510 hectares and is 20km west of Launceston. We currently manage the property as a Polwarth sheep fine wool enterprise. Ashburn is made up of gently undulating tertiary sands over deep impermeable clays. Dry sclerophyll forest is the predominant vege - tation type in one of Tasmania s largest communities of black peppermint (Eucalyptus amygdalina). Other vegetation includes swamp gums, silver wattles, manna gums, blackwoods and blue pincushion flowers. Numerous fungi provide food for thepotoroos. We have permanently protected 133+ hectares under a Tasmanian Government Covenant, complemented by our membership with the Wildlife Land Trust, the Private Forest Reserve Program and Land for Wildlife. Our covenant comprises three major areas with interconnecting shelter belts providing corridors between them. Ashburn provides vital habitat for 40+ native birds, with two known nesting sites for the endangered Tasmanian wedge-tailed eagle. We plan to control deer and feral cats. Gorse, while a problem, offers habitat for small birds and native mice. Fallen trees are left in situ as a source of habitat and food. Ashburn is happily shared with researchers and PhD students (studyingbats, birdsandbettongs), TasmanianCovenant holders and walking/field naturalist groups. We ve even hosted an International Girl Guide night-spotting camp out. We will continue farming sustainably, limiting chemicals as we work towards an organic future, without impacting native habitat and ensuring protection of native flora and fauna. Photo: Steve Parish Wildlife is abundant at Ashburn which is home to iconic Tasmanian species like devils, bettongs and pademelons. Others include wombats, eastern and spotted-tailed quolls, Bennett s wallabies, long-nosed potoroos, eastern-barred and southern brown bandi - coots, echidnas, sugar gliders, ringtail and brush-tailed possums and several bat species identified by the University of Tasmania. Lowland copperhead snakes are the prevalent reptile, along with frogs, skinks and lizards. Gil and Dawne Walker Ashburn TASMANIA 3

4 Graham and Debbie Blackley Down to Earth Farm Retreat VICTORIA Our south-facing property sits at the base of the foothills of the Great Dividing Range just ten minutes from Bairnsdale in eastern Victoria. Our 53 hectares fall steeply away to a gully where water runoff enters the nearby Nicholson River 10 km from the Gippsland Lakes. The entry to the property follows an elevated timbered ridge-line that features ironbark, red box and stringybark trees. The steep ridge terminates soon after entering the property and it at this vantage point that we have constructed earth-sheltered buildings. We live as sustainably as possible with little need for heating and none for cooling. The buildings are fire-proof, invisible from above and nestle seam - lessly into the surrounding environment. The roof is a vast native garden that provides food and shelter for birds, lizards and echidnas. We continue to revegetate areas of the property that had been cleared in the past and do so in a way that maintains links with other natural bushland. The Burrow studio apartment opens to native bush that drops steeply. The black wattle understory provides food for sugar gliders and the ground cover of bracken and sedge grasses gives cover to wombats and wallabies. Birdlife is abundant. WLT SANCTUARY OWNERS WLT Sanctuaries You Can Stay: Down to Earth Farm The Lakeview apartment features breathtaking views over the Nicholson River valley to the Gippsland Lakes. There is a steep drop across pasture to another sanctuary area below, where we grow organic food in our large vegetable gardens and orchards fitting with our ethos of sustainable living and care for the land. Beyond the gardens is a dense wetland. Here there is a forest of giant sedge often called 'cutty grass' which provides great wild - life habitat. These grasses grow to almost four metres and are impenetrable, protecting birds and animals from predators. We are fortunate as custodians of this very special property with its disparate environs and have only recently begun to share the experience of living here with guests. Learn more and book your stay at downtoearthfarmretreat.com.au Boronia Farm lies within the Argyle State Forest, near Donnybrook in southwest Western Australia. Our 65 hectare farm, named after the brown boronia (Boronia megastigma) that grows wild here, was taken up in 1931 and was about 60% cleared when we bought it in Soon after we bought the property we fenced the remnant bush, including the boronia swamp, to exclude cattle and preserve the bushland. In the protected swamplands and forest you can see the amazing ability of the bush to regenerate itself, given time to do so. The bush is mostly jarrah, marri and blackbutt eucalypts, but bullich, Kingia and southern grasstrees are also found in the regenerated areas. A variety of native wildflowers are also in the forests and pastures throughout our property. the National Association of Sustainable Agriculture of Australia. We also incorporate holistic grazing and management principles which help to build deep soils, and exclude kangaroos from some pastures to allow grasslands and soils to recover from grazing. As part of our stability through diverse economic and environmental management, guests are welcome to explore the natural forests and swamplands and take part in the production activities of Boronia Farm. Visitors can stay in the newly renovated farmstay cottage, which is sustainably supplied by rainwater and green energy sources. Visit us at boroniafarm.com.au The previous owners could remember tammar wallabies in the bush, but sadly they are no longer there. We still have bandicoots, brushtail possums, phascogales and yellow-footed antechinus, and occasionally we see western quolls. Many bird species such as red-tailed and white-tailed blackcockatoos regularly visit the farm. We have used netting to prevent any damage to our orchards that these birds cause, and enjoy seeing them fly over on their way to more natural food. While we value our bushland immensely, we also want to be able to produce organic food. Our whole farm is certified organic with 4 Barry and Dale Green Boronia Farm WESTERN AUSTRALIA WLT Sanctuaries You Can Stay: Boronia Farm

5 WILDLIFE LAND TRUST SANCTUARIES ome 60,000 hectares of wildlife-friendly habitat New sanctuaries Existing members WLT SANCTUARIES NOT ONLY PROTECT VAST AND IMPRESSIVE LANDSCAPES, BUT ALSO THE SMALLER, HUMBLER PLACES THAT PROVIDE FOR THE NEEDS OF ALL WILDLIFE, RARE AND COMMON SPECIES ALIKE. 5

6 WLT S NETWORK OF ECO-TOURISM PROPERTIES Sanctuaries You Can Stay Riverview Nature Retreat Cloudlake The WLT s Sanctuaries You Can Stay program has grown steadily since its launch in 2016, with 29 member sanctuaries offering wildlife-friendly accommodation now listed on the WLT website. We know private conservation efforts are often self-funded, so by choosing to visit Sanctuaries You Can Stay properties people can make a direct financial contribution to the protection of native wildlife and their habitats. The intent of the program is to benefit accommodation providers and visitors alike, and Sanctuaries You Can Stay advertisements provide exposure to accommodation offered by WLT members while providing others in the program, as well as the general public, with the opportunity to visit stunning places and witness some of the incredible work being carried out. Cloudlake Mountain Retreat offers an eco-designed contemporary pole house and a recycled classic Queenslander. Perched just above Cloudlake in a hidden valley close to Ravensbourne National Park, both are self-contained with kitchens, BBQs on verandas, wood fires and lakeside camp fires. Rising from your most refreshing sleep, open up the French doors and enjoy breakfast on the deck just above the lake while checking out waterbird visitors, with black ducks, wood ducks and grebes likely. Then, booted up with a map in hand, explore this wonderful 26 hectare property, gardens, orchards and a vineyard to see if you can add to our bird list (currently at 130 species) or perhaps find some rainforest snails, mountain worms, land mullet lizards, echidnas or a platypus. Location: Ravensbourne (near Toowoomba), Queensland Visit: cloudlake.com Contact: (07) or bigpond.com Riverview Nature Retreat is an inviting cabin with comfy rooms and all the modern conveniences for a romantic getaway or a family holiday. In the heartland of the Hawkesbury River at Lower Portland, it s an easy 90 minute drive from Sydney city centre and the perfect spot for a weekend break or a leisurely mid-week holiday. This double-storey cabin has two bedrooms and enjoys a private elevated position amongst 2.5 hectares of natural bushland over - looking the majestic Hawkesbury River and picturesque valley below. The property is home to iconic Australian wildlife including eastern grey kangaroos, wallabies, echidnas and bare-nosed wombats. Location: Hawkesbury River, New South Wales Visit: riverviewnatureretreat.com.au Contact: or riverviewnatureretreat@gmail.com To see all WLT Sanctuaries You Can Stay, visit: wildlifelandtrust.org.au Want to offer your eco-accommodation? Just fill out our application form at: surveymonkey.com/r/wltsycsmembers HSWLT US SANCTUARY PROFILE With an eye to the future Honouring the wishes of his late wife, Willetta, Galen Larson donated the conservation easement on their 145 hectare wildlifesanctuary to our US counterparts the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust in 2004, fulfilling his promise to find a way to protect the land for wildlife forever. Located in the Four Corners of southwestern Colorado, Larson Wildlife Sanctuary is a beautiful forested, open expanse with pinyon pines on the upper areas above a canyon, and big sages on its lower slopes and canyon floor. Larson Wildlife Sanctuary is a legacy of Willetta s love of the land and wildlife. It s home to a wide array of wildlife including mule deer, elk, snakes, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, cottontail and jack rabbits and raccoons. It also provides vital habitat for resident and migratory birds, including iconic bald and golden eagles. 6

7 RunnerUp Judi Gray Your response to our photo competition was over - whelming and picking a winner was difficult. Congratulations to Mikayla Thorondor and her family whose snap of a slender-tailed dunnart in a hollow features on this edition s cover. However, we have to share these other stunners from our shortlist. And thank you to all other entrants; watch for your shots on our social media profiles soon. Photo Finish Highly Commended Robert Tidey Sue-Ellen Smith Paula Sharkey Jens Sohnrey Diane Armbrust Robin Yates 7

8 THREATENED ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITY PROFILE Photo: Steve Parish STOP PRESS We ve just received the fantastic news that Lowland Tropical Rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion has been prioritised for further assessment, with the Threatened Species Scientific Committee due to provide their advice to the Minister for the Environment in late Lowland Tropical Rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion HSI and the Wildlife Land Trust submitted three federal threatened ecological community (TEC) nominations in 2017, including the Lowland Tropical Rainforest of the Wet Tropics Bioregion. Our nomination argued eligibilty for a national endangered listing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Characteristics of the bioregion (from just north of Townsville to just south of Cooktown) include high floral biodiversity, threatened and endemic species and ecosystems, along with stunning scenery and landscapes. Unlike most other tropical evergreen equatorial forests, those in the Wet Tropics experience short dry seasons (a unique influence on their composition and structure). These lowland forests are the last extensive stands of their type, forming a complex ecosystem of forest types and a high diversity of flora and fauna not found elsewhere in Australia. The community consists mainly of mesophyll and/or notophyll vine forests on alluvial river and creek flats, and just 20% remains. Unfortunately even this is highly fragmented, and less than 10% of remnant vegetation is unaffected by severe degradation. The Jarrah Creek Valley is key to preservation of the ecological community as it is a large, intact remnant of the ecosystem and core habitat for endangered southern cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii). These cassowaries have a remaining population between just 1,200 and 1,500 individuals, and are a keystone species in the Wet Tropics vital for the transfer of seeds for many rainforest plants. According to the Daintree Futures Study, the long-term viability of this population and other fauna depends upon the habitat value of the lowlands throughout the area, to main tainhabitatconnectivity, breedingandgenetictransfer through out the population. The survival of sufficient numbers of individual cassowaries whose home range is predominantly on the lowland private lands is essential to maintaining the population. Fortunately, the area is a hotspot of WLT activity. The greatest threat to the community and its inhabitants survival is land clearing, historically for cane farming. In the 1840s settlers cut Wet Tropics timber to provide land for agriculture, with small areas taken up for sugarcane plantations from around These activities have since expanded, with their impact compounded by increasing urban development. Further development will result in rainforest clearing and fencing, loss of rare and threatened species and more pressure on threatened species such as tree kangaroos and cassowaries. The community must get TEC protection and be listed as a Matter of National Environmental Significance. Being on the coast of the Great Barrier Reef, there are additional benefits to protecting threatened vegetation in the lowlands of the Wet Tropics such as reduced erosion and nutrient runoff. Our scientific analysis found the community meets three out of the six criteria for a threatened listing so we re optimistic it will be earmarked for priority assessment by the Threatened Species Scientific Committee. Other HSI/WLT Threatened Ecological Community nominations in 2017: Darwin Sandsheet Heath (resubmission with Environment Centre NT) Melaleuca dominated temperate swamp sclerophyll forests of coastal floodplains of eastern Australia 8

9 THREATENED SPECIES PROFILE Leadbeater s possum Gymnobelideus leadbeateri Quick and elusive, it s thought only 1,500 remain Leadbeater s possums are the only mammals endemic to Victoria, living almost exclusively in the mountain ash forests of the Central Highlands. Once believed extinct, the species was rediscovered in Marysville by Eric Wilkinson in 1961 to the delight of natural science enthusiasts globally. However, Leadbeater s possums are still a highly threatened species. Protected under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, its status was raised from endangered to critically endangered under federal environmental laws in 2015 largely due to dramatic declines in both population and habitat. Habitat loss is the leading threat to the species, mainly due to commercial logging and a species critically endangered status for the sake of Victorian logging jobs. Citizen scientists from both sides are conducting independent counts as they continue to debate the species abundance in proximity to native forest logging coupes. In a recent opinion piece, Professor David Lindenmeyer suggested environmental protection and economic development needn t be mutually exclusive, arguing for the restructuring of the logging industry to benefit both the possum and the Victorian economy. In his view, when you add the environmental assets of the state s wet forests to the economic equation, a more sustainable management model would better natural susceptibility to bushfires. The cumulative A state symbol advance both camps. impacts have contributed to sustained deterioration in a sad state The National Recovery Plan for Leadbeater s of habitat quality and a rapid decline in nest sites. of affairs possum, finalised in February 2016, holds the Nocturnal, arboreal and relatively inactive, Leadbeater s species as an indicator or flagship species, possums are thought to spend about three quarters Victoria s faunal emblem meaning the threats they face are expected of their time in nests crafted from strips of bark in is among an array of to affect many other less iconic species. old growth forest hollows. They consume gums, saps Australian animals If antiquated logging practices continue and the and honeydew (a sugary secretion produced by aphids (including the elusive night possum and other hollow-dependent animals and insects) and derive protein from invertebrates parrot) rediscovered are driven to extinction, the ecosystem like tree crickets hiding beneath the bark of after years of presumed function will be disrupted and this will, in turn, mountain ash trees. extinction. negatively impact the logging industry. With a maximum body length of just 17cm, the possums are small, fast and tricky to spot. Their tails are formed club-like, widening slightly close to the tip, and measure around 17cm in length. Typically a greyish brown colour on top with lighter fur beneath, they have a striking black stripe down their back. Their typical life span is five years, with maturity at It is also at the heart of a heated debate around the perceived conflict between the environment and the economy. Though unverified, the population is estimated at little more than 1,500. However, the threat to their habitat posed by unsustainable logging and a naturally high susceptibility to bush fires (2009 s Black Saturday fires are held to have halved their number) is undeniable. More needs to be done to save this iconic species two to three years. Fully grown, a possum weighs and private land conservation is central to success. 100g 170g (roughly the same as an orange). The timber industry is at loggerheads with those dedicated to the recovery of this species. Earlier this year, Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce promoted a black-and-white approach, tweeting to put people before possums and downgrade the Environmental protection and economic growth not mutally exclusive 9

10 WILDLIFE LAND TRUST SANCTUARIES SANCTUARY OWNER/MANAGER/CUSTODIAN HECTARES LOCATION New South Wales 29 new sanctuaries, adding 495.9ha = 215 sanctuaries / 18,610ha Platypus Creek Paul Fischer and Kathryn Zaknic 2.6 Burringbar La Granja Holistic Alpacas Joy Allenby Acuna and Heroides Acuna Tarago Riverview Nature Retreat Riccardo and Maria Nati 2.63 Lower Portland 801 Janet Reynolds Numbugga Bunyip B. Macleod 18 Batemans Bay Kenya Kristian and Kerrie Guppy 8 Wingham Hopping Dicks Creek Susie Hearder 84 Limpinwood Kadesh Robert Rathbone Deniliquin Katmandu Ursula and Terry Prince St Albans Nymbaringa Chris and Craig Collyer 40 Nymboida Adam and Katrina's Refuge Adam and Katrina De Tracy 6.07 Possum Brush Wallaroo Joan and Brad Reid 43 Hunter Valley HOPONTOP Brian and Ruth Hopkins Fountaindale Roo Corner Paul and Lyn Obern 2.02 Kangaroo Valley Aliison's Refuge Aliison Kelly 2.47 The Channon Mudgeroo Emu Farm and Animal Refuge Philip and Belinda Donovan Falls Creek Beauview Frances and Brian Weavers 2.5 Table Top Gordon's Refuge Gordon Markwart 0.23 Robertson Cordyline Retreat Keith Bishop 10.2 Bungwahl Koala Gardens Katrina Jeffery 5.6 Tuckurimba Summer Hill Sanctuary Vicki Barnes and Malcolm Ritchie 2.05 Stokers Siding Bombah Point Eco Cottages Duncan and Suzie Campbell 40 Bombah Point Willawa Penny and David Gibson Young Wombat Care Bundanoon John Creighton 0.4 Bundanoon Cungarlmayler Carramar Jon and Michelle van Beest Pappinbarra Cloudfarm Celeste Coucke and Stephen Fearnley Mt Murray Cabins in the Clouds Sean Collier 5 Vacy Cabins in the Clouds (Kirawa) Sean Collier Vacy Gang Gang Lodge Todd and Natasha Fielding 8 Wombeyan Caves Queensland 11 new sanctuaries, adding 355.9ha = 143 sanctuaries / 32,132ha Domes Retreat Will Fehres (Property Unit Trust) 19.4 Glen Esk Forest Lodge Manfred and Helene Klose 8.3 Captain Creek El-Raes Richard and Maureen Brasnett 2.02 Meringandan Nonie's Refuge Nonie Metzler 16.2 Gympie Stephanie and Bernie's Refuge Stephanie and Bernie Fitzgerald 0.2 Booral 10

11 SANCTUARY OWNER/MANAGER/CUSTODIAN HECTARES LOCATION Cloudlake Mountain Retreat Richard and Rosemary Jones 26.6 Ravensbourne Camp Chilli Bob and Judy Irwin 259 Charlestown Pat and Andy's Refuge Pat Campbell and Andy Cowan 9.71 Shannonvale Grant and Faye's Refuge Grant Maw and Faye Whiffin 12.1 Howard Kevin's Refuge Kevin Lawson 1.24 Isis River Cameron and Kimberly s Refuge Cameron and Kimberly Beard 1.2 Speewah Victoria 9 new sanctuaries, adding 172ha = 45 sanctuaries / 1,514ha Laeso Ray Saunders and Debbie Birkett 0.4 Tarwin Lower Serenity Jan and Harry Palmer 4.05 Drummond Down to Earth Farm Retreat Graham and Debbie Blackley 53 Sarsfield Aroona Margrett Barry and Col Counsell 4.45 Stratford KIIRRA KULA II Roger and Debbie Hurst 35 Foster Narkindie Barry and Aileen Sullivan 41 Portland Gap Road Botanical Sanctuary Michael Bankes 23 Longwood East Pauline and Roger s Refuge Pauline Edwards and Roger East Portland John s Refuge John Daley 8 Wellsford Tasmania 3 new sanctuaries, adding 641.9ha = 29 sanctuaries / 2,251ha Ashburn Gil and Dawne Walker 516 Carrick Pegarah Private Nature Reserve & Parenna Place Pam Rolley and Wade Roskam 45 Naracoopa The Sprites at Swanport Bart Jenniches and Kelly Blackford 80.9 Little Swanport Western Australia 5 new sanctuaries, adding 601.8ha = 31 sanctuaries / 3,976ha Possum Valley Animal Sanctuary Chris Rafferty and Mark Hayman Mt Helena Jacaranda Hill Farm Robert and Sarah Cass 43 Fairbridge Little Bluebush Wildlife Sanctuary Sue and Steve Rose 511 Latham Quaalup Homestead Wilderness Retreat Carsten Wagner-Richelmann and Karin Quetschke 17 Fitzgerald River National Park Balingup Heights Hilltop Forest Cottages Deb and Brian Vanallen 18.6 Balingup South Australia 4 new sanctuaries, adding 112.6ha = 20 sanctuaries / 588ha Kanangra Bruce and Janette Leibhardt 8 Pewsley Vale Left Field Farm Roanna Horbelt 40.5 Stokes Bay Kambuth Jan and Richard Kay 60 Younghusband Craig s Refuge Craig Baulderstone Coromandel East Northern Territory 1 new sanctuary, adding 2.3ha = 4 sanctuaries / 628.5ha Ntaria Wildlife Sanctuary Hermannsburg Aboriginal Charitable Trust (David Thomson) 2.3 Hermannsburg Nearly 60,000 hectares of wildlife-friendly habitat 11

12 Become a member of an international network of wildlife sanctuaries saving lives by saving land Join the Wildlife Land Trust Be part of Australia s contribution to an international network of wildlife sanctuaries. There are no costs or legal concerns, just a lot of satisfaction. The Wildlife Land Trust (WLT) is a very inclusive initiative, as shown by the sizes, uses and locations of our members. Whether your property is one or 1,000 hectares, a family home, a working farm or one dedicated to conservation, you ll be making a positive difference for native wildlife and habitat conservation by joining this like-minded network. The WLT encourages private landholders to become part of this expanding habitat protection effort. The benefits include: relating your sanctuary s profile to like-minded people through our newsletter and website; advice if your property comes under threat of development; partnership in our nationwide conservation programs; participation in WLT member programs such as the Wildlife Rehabilitators Release Network and Sanctuaries You Can Stay; and WLT signage and a membership certificate for your property. The program is non-binding and risk-free; there are no costs or legal obligations. And it complements any existing or future agreements you make to protect your land. Learn more about this exciting program at wildlifelandtrust.org.au and also visit the US-based WLT site at hswlt.org Or give Head of Programs Evan Quartermain a call on or him at: evan@hsi.org.au WLT19 Like to support the WLT? Card number: Expiry date: I wish to make a tax deductible donation of: Name on card: $1000 $500 $250 $100 $50 $25 Other: $ I am paying by: Mastercard American Express Visa Cheque Money Order Address: Phone: Signature Postcode: Please mail to: Humane Society International PO Box 439 Avalon, NSW 2107 or donate by telephone (freecall ) or visit: Our mission: Wildlife Land Trust Australia supports landholders to protect wildlife, and preserves natural habitats and permanent sanctuaries. Our goal: To protect one million acres of wildlife habitat in Australia and expand partnerships throughout Africa, India, Asia and globally. Wildlife Land Trust PO Box 439 Avalon NSW 2107 Australia wlt@hsi.org.au facebook.com/wltau twitter.com/wlt_au Tel: Fax: ISBN: