The public is invited to walk amongst some of Australia's most threatened species during guided walks at Australian Wildlife Conservancy's (AWC) Yookamurra Wildlife Sanctuary on the land of Ngarrindjeri Nation.
As part of the 2024 South Australia Nature Festival, Yookamurra will open the gates (figuratively speaking only) to its 1,100-hectare feral predator-free fenced area, for two walks on 4 October 2024.
The Morning Walk runs for two hours from 10.00am during which visitors will see some of the best stands of intact rare old-growth mallee in south-eastern Australia including many trees estimated at over 600 years old. They'll also learn how to detect some of the mallee's cryptic wildlife through diggings, burrows, and scats and if they're extremely lucky, they may even catch a glimpse of one of the resident Numbats.
Melissa Elderfield/AWC The evening Spotlight Walk, which has already sold out, starts at 8pm and includes a walk through the mallee using large spotlights to search for active Bilbies, Bettongs and Possums. The evening tour will also highlight the many species present at Yookamurra and AWC's work to safeguard their future.
"We're really excited to be part of this year's SA Nature Festival and to provide the public a unique opportunity to see firsthand the important conservation work Australian Wildlife Conservancy is conducting just two hours outside of Adelaide," said Helen Crisp, AWC Regional Ecologist.
Yookamurra's feral predator-free fenced area protects vitally important populations of threatened species and is home to one of Australia's longest running reintroduction programs which has restored four locally extinct species to their former range. The species are the Bilby, Numbat, Burrowing Bettong and Brush-tailed Bettong.
Brad Leue/AWC Yookamurra also protects extant populations of Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats, as well as small mammals such as the Western Pygmy Possum and Common Dunnarts. There are also over 110 bird species confirmed on the property, including the large ground-dwelling, nationally Vulnerable Malleefowl.
"While we can't guarantee a Numbat or a Bilby sighting, there are plenty of other incredible species to look out for including rare or declining woodland birds such as the Hooded Robin, Gilbert's Whistler, Brown Treecreeper and Southern Scrub-robin" added Helen.
Yookamurra's guided walks are on sale via SA Nature Festival's website, here. Tickets for the Morning Walk are $15, and the Spotlight Walk is currently sold out.
Steve Parish/AWC All visitors are required to wear enclosed footwear, long pants and long-sleeved tops, and BYO water and snacks. Those taking part in the Spotlight Walk are encouraged to bring their own head torch or handheld torch and a rain jacket.
