Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Minister for Environment regarding the translocation of western ringtail possums from the Busselton Hospital site to the Tone Perup Nature Reserve, seeking details on survival rates and reporting on the translocation's outcomes. The Minister provides survival data and confirms a report will be available after a two-year monitoring period.

AnsweredQoN 425Legislative Council
Asked
13 August 2013
Portfolio
Environment

QuestionView source ↗

WESTERN RINGTAIL POSSUMS — RELOCATION
425. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the minister representing the
Minister for Environment:
I refer to the translocation of the western ringtail possum.
In August to September 2012, the Department of Environment and Conservation
removed 30 western ringtail possums—20 adults and 10 juveniles—from
the Busselton Hospital redevelopment site and released them into the Tone Perup
Nature Reserve.
(1) For the 10
radio-collared adults, how long did each collared possum survive?
(2) Is there a report that discusses the field outcomes of
this particular possum translocation event?
(3) If yes to (2), will the minister table that report?
(4) If no to (2), why was a report
not written?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) In total,
11 animals were collared. Eight animals survived for two, 10, 18, 100, 100,
106, 124 and 131 days. The remaining three collared animals were known to be
alive at 222 days and may still be alive. The batteries on the three remaining
collars prematurely failed approximately two months ahead of schedule and so no
further radio location data is available.
(2) A report is required at the completion of the two-year
monitoring period in September 2014.
(3) Yes.
(4) Not
applicable.

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