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Southern Gulf Catchments Ltd is a not - for - profit community organisation working through partnerships to implement strategic planning and investment activities that care for our region’s natural and cultural assets.
Biodiversity and Natural Icons
The Australian Government has acknowledged the need to take action to protect our biodiversity and natural icons. Priorities for government funding will include; protecting World Heritage Areas, tackling weeds and pest animals that threaten biodiversity, and improving outcomes for nationally threatened species and communities.
Project Case Study:
Safe Haven For Julia Creek Dunnart
Endemic to Mitchell Grass Downs the Julia Creek dunnart is a carnivorous marsupial listed as 'endangered' under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Conservation Status
Commonwealth: 'Endangered' (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
Queensland: 'Endangered' (Nature Conservation Act 1992)
What does it look like?
The Julia Creek Dunnart is a small, carnivorous marsupial resembling a large mouse, with brownish fur on its back and a white underbelly. Like others in its family, it has large eyes, narrow feet and a pointed snout, but is distinguished by a prominent facial stripe and dark hairy rings around the eyes and ears. Its long, tapering tail is slightly shorter than the combined head and body length.
Where does it live?
The Julia Creek Dunnart is restricted to the Mitchell Grass Downs country of northwest Queensland. It gets its name from the fact that until recently, all known individuals had been found within a short radius of Julia Creek and Richmond. During dry conditions, especially when ground cover is sparse, the Dunnart may shelter in cracks in the ground. After rain it likes the protection of low plant communities.
What does it eat?
This nocturnal species has short, sharp teeth ideal for crunching insects, centipedes, spiders, scorpions and skinks. These invertebrates contain a high percentage of water, which means the Dunnart does not need to drink often - a great adaptation for life in arid conditions.
Did you know...
• This little marsupial only weighs between 40 and 70 grams, but it is the largest member of its genus
• During short-term food shortages it can go into ‘torpor’
• It may have the ability to detect rain through its keen sense of smell. It has been known to travel up to 10 kilometres after local rain, almost always toward the rainfall area
• The species is capable of hunting lizards and mice, young Dunnarts can catch their own insect dinners from just 10 weeks of age
• Up to 8 young are born in each litter. A newborn Dunnart weighs just 15 milligrams, an is only 4 millimetres long, at this stage it breathes through its skin! The mother carries her young in a tiny fold of belly skin that works as a pouch.
(© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia)
Commonwealth: 'Endangered' (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999)
Queensland: 'Endangered' (Nature Conservation Act 1992)
What does it look like?
The Julia Creek Dunnart is a small, carnivorous marsupial resembling a large mouse, with brownish fur on its back and a white underbelly. Like others in its family, it has large eyes, narrow feet and a pointed snout, but is distinguished by a prominent facial stripe and dark hairy rings around the eyes and ears. Its long, tapering tail is slightly shorter than the combined head and body length.
Where does it live?
The Julia Creek Dunnart is restricted to the Mitchell Grass Downs country of northwest Queensland. It gets its name from the fact that until recently, all known individuals had been found within a short radius of Julia Creek and Richmond. During dry conditions, especially when ground cover is sparse, the Dunnart may shelter in cracks in the ground. After rain it likes the protection of low plant communities.
What does it eat?
This nocturnal species has short, sharp teeth ideal for crunching insects, centipedes, spiders, scorpions and skinks. These invertebrates contain a high percentage of water, which means the Dunnart does not need to drink often - a great adaptation for life in arid conditions.
Did you know...
• This little marsupial only weighs between 40 and 70 grams, but it is the largest member of its genus
• During short-term food shortages it can go into ‘torpor’
• It may have the ability to detect rain through its keen sense of smell. It has been known to travel up to 10 kilometres after local rain, almost always toward the rainfall area
• The species is capable of hunting lizards and mice, young Dunnarts can catch their own insect dinners from just 10 weeks of age
• Up to 8 young are born in each litter. A newborn Dunnart weighs just 15 milligrams, an is only 4 millimetres long, at this stage it breathes through its skin! The mother carries her young in a tiny fold of belly skin that works as a pouch.
(© Copyright Commonwealth of Australia)
The Julia Creek Dunnart Recovery & Captive Breeding Program is a dynamic program with interrelated milestones pertaining to the identification, protection, conservation, and preservation of the species resulting in social, economic and environmental benefits for the local and regional community.At its core the Julia Creek Dunnart Recovery and Captive Breeding Program aspires to ‘ensure that the species survives at least within its current known range ’ and the reasons for its decline are mitigated. These aspirations are echoed by relevant State and Commonwealth action plans specifically the Queensland Environmental Protection Authority ‘Recovery plan for the Julia Creek dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi) 2000-2004’ and the Commonwealth’s 1996 Action Plan for Australian Marsupials and Monotremes .
The area known as the Julia Creek Airport reserve was selected as the most feasible site for this program due to its proximity to the town centre (<10kms), year round accessibility, intact Mitchell grass biota, non-existence of woody weeds and minimal historic pastoral use.
Fencing design considered best practice literature and professional advice as well as localised environmental conditions and supporting pest eradication and maintenance regimes.Construction of a 8.35 kilometre fox and cat proof floppy-top fence around the perimeter of a 273 hectare intact Mitchell grass block creating a dunnart recovery area, akin to the Bilby model of south-west Queensland.
This dunnart recovery activity will result in the optimisation of known dunnart populations through the established recovery area where critical intact habitat is preserved and cat and fox predation is mitigated.
It is envisaged that the recovery area will be a focus for community awareness, education and extension activities. As well as promoting the adoption of voluntary conservation agreements among pastoralists through improved awareness of land use pressures and best practice land management.
NRM outcomes of the project:
This dunnart recovery activity will result in the optimisation of known dunnart populations through the established recovery area where critical intact habitat is preserved and cat and fox predation is mitigated.
It is envisaged that the recovery area will be a focus for community awareness, education and extension activities. As well as promoting the adoption of voluntary conservation agreements among pastoralists through improved awareness of land use pressures and best practice land management.
NRM outcomes of the project:
- Mitchell Grass downs in the Southern Gulf region are now represented in the national reserve system through the creation of a Dunnart habitat sanctuary (Nature Refuge status).
- Raised community awareness about biodiversity threats and conservation.
- Known populations of the endangered Julia Creek Dunnart are conserved through the creation of a predator and weed free sanctuary.
Download SGC Factsheet: Safe Haven for Julia Creek Dunnart