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Despite having only 5 percent of the world’s land mass, 7 to 10 percent of all species on Earth are Australian, gifting the continent with an incredible amount of biodiversity. However, in the last 200 years, we have suffered the largest decline in biodiversity of any continent, so it is incredibly vital that we increase our efforts of conservation.

Biodiversity conservation on private land is an essential part to ensuring as much of our environment is being protected as possible, and one of the key threats to our indigenous species is the introduction of invasive species. South-west of Canberra, the Wandiyali—Environa Wildlife Sanctuary’s mission is the sustainable protection of Australia’s natural environment. This involves the establishment of a predator-proof fence to facilitate the protection of existing native species as well as the translocation of endangered native mammals. These mammals include the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillate), the Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus viverrinus), and the Eastern Bettong (Bettongia gaimardia). However, they are often predated by foxes and cats which are responsible for the extinction of 24 native mammal extinctions and counting.

Figure 1. The predator-proof fence at the Wandiyali—Environa Sanctuary (Wandiyali—Environa Trust, 2020).

A predator-proof fence ≠ A wombat-proof fence

To keep foxes and cats out of the Sanctuary, $1.2 million from the Federal Government’s Environment Restoration Fund was put forward to establish a 400ha haven within the Sanctuary, much of which went towards the development of the predator-proof fence. Upon visiting the site, the gate had been installed with intermittent, sturdy, vertically swinging wombat gates to allow them to move throughout the Sanctuary freely. In places where the wombats had dug underneath the fence as they were following their established, natural routes, the caretakers at Wandiyali were installing additional wombat gates. By taking cues from the wombats’ paths, the Sanctuary is working to create a safe haven for native mammals whilst ensuring the least interruption of natural processes.

Figure 2. Example of a wombat gate in a predator-proof fence (CSIRO, 2022).

Hollowhogs: Is innovations best at its simplest?

In addition to invasive species, the threat of habitat loss through deforestation has reduced the number of tree hollows in Australia and thus reduced impacted populations of hollow-dependent animals. At least 300 types of Australian animals rely on hollows for homes, including 28% of reptiles, 42% of mammals, and 17% of bird species. Within the Sanctuary, the application of the unique wood carving tool known as the Hollowhog has been created to make large internal cavities through small entry holes in both alive and dead wood. As it does not damage the tree’s cambium, the carving process does not disrupt the tree’s growth. Throughout the Sanctuary, the Hollowhog has been employed as a tool to attract primarily bird species such as the Scarlet Robin (Petroica boodang) to increase the numbers of naturally occurring native bird life. Additionally, to increase the Threatened Woodland Birds’ habitat, greater midstory planting and the placement of coarse woody debris throughout the Sanctuary has been added.

Figure 3. David Larcombe indicating a hollow created by a Hollowhog (Van Duyl, 2022).

Thus, the tactics of predator-proof fences and the provision of hollow habitats are effective tools for biodiversity conservation on private land at the Wandiyali—Environa Sanctuary.