Over the past year, Western Local Land Services and a number of its stakeholders have partnered to tackle the ongoing threat that introduced rabbits pose to the values of the Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Area and at the same time, reduce the impact that rabbits have on primary production in the Western region.
Project partners who include the Willandra Landholders Alliance, Western Landcare NSW, and the NSW National Parks and Wildlife World Heritage team, met to evaluate the progress of the project and develop an adaptive rabbit management plan to coordinate management efforts within the group and share knowledge about past lessons.
“So far we had some great success, the project has incorporated landholders, Western Local Land Services staff, volunteers and local Aboriginal community members working with National Parks and Wildlife Services World Heritage staff on country,” Western Local Land Services Communities Team Leader, Ben Slingsby said.
“Landholders, volunteers from SuniTAFE, Local Landcare Coordinator Thel O’Shea and Western Local Land Services staff used FeralScan to map nearly 6,500 rabbit warrens across the region.
“We have so far carried out mechanical control measures on over 12,000 ha.
“We still have a long way to go, but given the dry conditions and relatively low rabbit numbers, we think it is important to continue working with our partners to have a lasting effect on the impact rabbits have in the region.”
Community members wanting more information on the project should contact Mr Slingsby on (03) 5021 9408.
The Willandra Lakes rabbit control project is supported by Western Local Land Services through funding from the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program.
Source: Western Local Land Services
Featured Image: Willandra Lakes – Leanne Mitchell