Environment and Resource Management

Xstrata reintroduction project

What are we doing?

The release of a northern hairy-nosed wombat at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. Photo: DERM

The release of a northern hairy-nosed wombat at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. Photo: DERM

A second colony is being established for the northern hairy-nosed wombats. To achieve this, three partners are working together, with landowners Ed and Gabi Underwood providing the site, Xstrata a leading mining company providing sponsorship, and Queensland’s Department of Environment and Resource Management planning and implementing the project. More details are available on the Xstrata reintroduction project: design and methods page.

Why are we doing this?

There is a significant risk that one natural event such as fire or flood could wipe out the entire species of the northern hairy-nosed wombat whilst there remained only one population at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific). Therefore, a second colony was needed to minimise the risk of extinction. In order to establish a second colony, it was necessary to translocate wombats from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) to a new site.

Any reintroduction project has risks for the individuals involved. There is a real risk that this reintroduction project will not succeed and that individual animals may not survive, however, the effort must be made to overcome the greater risk to the species. During the course of the reintroduction project, every effort has been made to reduce the risk to every wombat involved.

The reintroduction of wombats to a new site is also a specific objective of the recovery plan for the northern hairy-nosed wombat Lasiorhinus krefftii 2004–2008.

Xstrata's role

The then Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, Ed Underwood, and Peter Freyherg, Xstrata Coal's Chief Executive. Photo: DERM

The then Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, Andrew McNamara, Ed Underwood, and Peter Freyherg, Xstrata Coal's Chief Executive. Photo: DERM

Xstrata, a leading mining company has sponsored the reintroduction project as part of their Community Partnerships Program which supports initiatives in the areas of health, education, environment, arts and culture, social and community development, and enterprise and job creation.

Xstrata Coal's Chief Executive Peter Freyherg has said:

I am very proud that Xstrata is playing a significant role in helping protect the future of the northern hairy-nosed wombat. This is an extremely important conservation project and we are delighted to have partnered with DERM to make such a substantial contribution…

Patrick Collins and the Hon. Andrew McNamara. Photo: DERM

Patrick Collins and the Hon. Andrew McNamara. Photo: DERM

Xstrata's generous sponsorship of the northern hairy-nosed wombat reintroduction project was acknowledged by the then Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, the Hon. Andrew McNamara at a gala dinner and prestigious awards ceremony for the Third Sustainable Industries Awards function held at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on 31 October 2008.

Patrick Collins, General Manager Corporate Affairs & Community Relations, Xstrata Zinc accepted a certificate of appreciation from the Hon. Andrew McNamara.

Richard Underwood Nature Refuge

The location of Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) and Richard Underwood Nature Refuge, Yarran Downs Photo: DERM

The location of Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) and Richard Underwood Nature Refuge, Yarran Downs Photo: DERM

The plaque at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. Photo: DERM

The plaque at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. Photo: DERM

In order to establish a second population of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, a site for the reintroduction had to be found.

Several studies were undertaken to investigate potential suitable habitat for northern hairy-nosed wombats. The studies incorporated satellite imagery, soil, landform and regional ecosystem mapping, site visits for vegetation and soil testing.

A suitable site, with the right soils, vegetation and landscape to support the wombat population, was found at Yarran Downs near St George in southern Queensland. (St George is the type locality for the northern hairy-nosed wombat).

The owners of Yarran Downs, Ed and Gabi Underwood entered into a Nature Refuge agreement over the part of their property that was to be the reintroduction site for the wombats. Their nature refuge, the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge, was gazetted on the 27 November 2008 and protects about 105 hectares of eucalypt woodland on old river levees.

Part of the area that has become the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge and the adjacent Reserve for Environmental Purposes had an Authority to Prospect (ATP) covering it. Bow Energy Ltd the holders of the ATP voluntarily agreed to an amendment which excluded the area within the predator-proof fence from any activity.

Preparing for the transloction of the wombats

Constructing the predator-proof fence at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. Photo: DERM

Constructing the predator-proof fence at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. Photo: DERM

Preparing for the translocation of northern hairy-nosed wombats from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) to the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge required a lot of work.

At the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge, the following tasks had to be completed to prepare the release site:

More details are available on the Xstrata reintroduction project: design and methods page.

Wombats in the air: translocating the wombats

Carrying a wombat to its release site at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. Photo: DERM

Carrying a wombat to its release site at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge. Photo: DERM

Translocating (that is moving) wombats from Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) to the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge involves coordination between specialised teams at each site.

At Epping Forest National Park (Scientific), trapping conducted over several nights capture wombats using cage-tunnel traps. Caught wombats are sedated, measured, tagged, have a health check, and are assessed for their suitability for translocation. Suitable wombats are flown south to St. George, and then driven to the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge.

At the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge, newly arrived wombats are carefully transported to a starter burrow, released into the burrow, and then closely monitored.

Since 2009 there have been 15 wombats translocated to the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge: four males and one female in July 2009, three females in April 2010, one female in June 2010, three females and a male in August 2010, and a female and a male in September 2010. You can read more details about the translocations in the wombat diary.

Wombats settling in to their new home

A female wombat carrying her joey in a bulging pouch at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in 2011. Photo: DERM

A female wombat carrying her joey in a bulging pouch at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge in 2011. Photo: DERM

The reintroduction has gone very well to date. Although there have been a few deaths of translocated wombats, none of these were immediately following their move so therefore it is unlikely that any were as a result of their translocation. The translocated wombats have been using the starter burrows, digging their own burrows, grazing and drinking from the supplementary water stations.

But best of all, in March 2011 it was confirmed that one of the female wombats carrying a joey in her pouch. This was followed by news in April 2011 of a second female carrying a joey. These are significant milestones, and indicate that the project has achieved the right conditions at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge to allow the wombats to breed.

More details about the wombats settling in to their new home can be found in the wombat diary.

Managing the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge for the wombats

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A "floppy top" fence. Photo: DERM

As at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific), the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge is managed to protect the wombats and their habitat from potential threats.

Caretaker program

A caretaker program is being established, where volunteers help to maintain the Nature Refuge and monitor the wombats.

Fire management

Controlled burns will be undertaken at the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge to ensure that there is adequate grazing available for wombats, and to reduce the risk of a large uncontrolled burn. Small blocks for controlled burns been identified, and burns will be recorded and planned using DERM’s PARKINFO system.

Weed control

Before any wombats were translocated to the Richard Underwood Nature Refuge, there was significant work removing invasive tiger pear cactus (Opuntia aurantiaca) from the site, and ongoing spot-removals are keeping this weed under control.

Predator control

As there are introduced predators (such as wild dogs, foxes and feral cats) that are threats to the wombats, the following management actions are undertaken:

Further information

Wombat diary

You can follow the progress of the northern hairy-nosed wombat reintroduction project in the wombat diary.

Media releases

Northern hairy-nosed wombat videos

Infra red videos

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Last updated 15 December 2011

Xstrata reintroduction project

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