- An innovative new partnership funded by the Australian Government will help target feral cats across 180,000 hectares of south-west Queensland.
- The Channel Country Threatened Species Partnership comprises twelve partnering groups representing government, First Nations, pastoralists and conservation groups.
- Iconic threatened species like the greater bilby and night parrot will receive greater protection through the removal of feral cats.
In a move to protect some of Queensland's most vulnerable species, the innovative Channel Country Threatened Species Partnership (CCTSP) has been formed to target feral cats across 180,000 hectares of south-west Queensland.
Feral cats, one of the nation's most devastating predators, pose an ongoing threat to more than 200 native species.
The partnership comprises twelve groups representing government, First Nations, pastoralists and conservation groups.
The project is being coordinated by the Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation and the Desert Channels Queensland NRM Group.
The project has received $498,973 funding through the Australian Government's Saving Native Species Program to implement the national Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032.
"For threatened species like the greater bilby, kowari, night parrot, and plains-wanderer, this is an important project," Deputy Director-General of Queensland's Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Mr Ben Klaassen, said.
"Feral cats are relentless hunters that don't recognise property boundaries.
"Innovative collaborative partnerships increase our chances of successfully managing such a damaging pest species and improving recovery outcomes for threatened species," Mr Klaassen said.
Eight sites have been selected for the project, building on existing efforts by the partners to effectively double feral cat management in the Channel Country.
"While the program's actual feral cat control efforts will focus on a land area of some 180,000 hectares, the eight sites comprise an area of up to 500,000 hectares across the Channel Country," Mr Klaassen said.
Control efforts include humane ground shooting and trapping, enhanced by technology such as thermal imaging scopes.
To gauge the project's success, wildlife cameras and bioacoustic recorders will monitor both predator and prey populations, offering insights into the effectiveness of these measures.
The partnership's efforts aim to improve the conservation outcomes for priority species being targeted for feral cat management by the project:
- The Greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis): Listed as Endangered in Queensland and Vulnerable nationally.
- The Night parrot (Pezoporus occidentalis): Listed as Endangered at both state and national levels.
- The Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus): A quail-like ground bird that is listed as Critically Endangered on both state and national lists.
- The Kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei): A small carnivorous marsupial that is listed as Endangered at both state and national levels.
"Without intervention, these iconic species face an uncertain future," said Desert Channels Queensland Chief Executive Officer Leanne Kohler.
"This program marks a turning point by uniting traditional custodians, pastoral companies, conservation groups, and the Queensland Government in a shared mission to safeguard the environment and biodiversity of our remarkably beautiful Channel Country.
"This project is a chance to turn the tide," Ms Kohler said.
