THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
Most of Australia's GROUND DWELLING MAMMALS depend on food from the litter layer,including
dunnarts,antechinuses,and the planigales plus bandicoots.
Shade is essential for the survival of these species in the drier areas.In cold climates,if exposed to the
winter winds they need up to about twice their usual food to keep warm.Shelter from trees & other plants
reduces heat loss.
About a third of Australia's mammals live in trees including bats,possums,gliders,koalas,2 species of tree
kangaroos and several species of native rodent.Some TREE DWELLING MAMMALS help pollinate certain
trees and shrubs through pollen sticking on their fur or from their tongue as they feed .
ENCOURAGING WILDLIFE
Wildlife on farms can protect soil fertility and maintain the health of shade trees .Unproductive areas can
be valuable for wildlife.
A strategy can be developed to include :
FENCING OFF REMNANTS of the original native vegetation
INCLUSION OF APPROPRIATE DIVERSITY of tree & shrub species
CONSERVATION OF NATIVE UNDERSTOREY
LEAVING OF OLD DEAD TREES to provide nest hollows for birds & mammals
ERECTING NEST BOXES IN OTHER TREES
DEVELOPING FARM DAMS AS SHARED HABITAT for wildlife & stock
PLANTING CORRIDORS OF TREES
ENSURING THAT NATIVE VEGETATION ON ROADSIDES,STOCK ROUTES & STREAMSIDES IS MANAGED
PROPERLY.
Many species are rarely sghted e.g. the hastings river mouse,the narrow nosed planigale,the parma
wallaby and the mountain possum were all considered extinct,until recently redscovered.
Landholders can help if they keep a list of animals seen on their land,plus any unknown dead animals
should be collected or photographed.
DID YOU KNOW? - over 50 species of Australian Animals and nearly 70 species of Australian plants are extinct.
Further,about 280 species of native animals and over 1160 species of native plants may become extinct in the near future.
The Federal Government's Natural Heritage Trust is helping conserve and protect our threatened species through joint
programmes such as the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Threatened Species Network.
DOLPHINS
ADOPT - A - DOLPHIN
For information on how you can be part of this project contact: THE PORT PHILLIP BAY DOLPHIN RESEARCH PROJECT Inc.
P.O.Box 774,Rye,3941
The dolphins that live in Port Phillip Bay are "inshore Bottlenose Dolphins".
Since 1982 researchers and volunteers with the Port Phillip Bay Dolphin Research Project have been observing the friendly
dolphins and their environment.
RESEARCHERS spend many months taking photos of individual dolphins and naming them for future reference.
VOLUNTEERS assist marine biologists by watching dolphin behaviour and habits and then file reports into a database.
MEMBERS have taken an active role in the development of a CETACEA INFORMATION & EDUCATION CENTRE as a permanent
research facility.
WE CANNOT PHYSICALLY "adopt - a - dolphin" as they belong to everyone,but WE can take an interest in individual dolphins by
joining the ADOPT - A - DOLPHIN campaign.
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