During late March Warrawong Wildlife Sanctuary conducted its annual small mammal census. This year the process stepped up a notch with the inclusion of Zoo's Animal Health, and Species Management teams. This contributed greatly to more accurate processing of animals and data recording.

In the weeks prior to the census 150 cage traps, including small traps designed to capture mammals such as rodents, were distributed around the sanctuary. To encourage animals into the traps, they were locked open and food was placed inside. This meant when it came to trapping the animals they weren't shy of going into them. Once everything was set we were geared up for eight trapping sessions conducted over two weeks.

Working across three teams, Zoos SA staff and experienced field volunteers' main responsibilities were to set and check traps, remove captured animals from traps, return the animals to the central processing station and then back into the Sanctuary. The central processing station was headed by the Animal Health and Species Management teams. Each animal caught was given a quick anaesthetic and general health check. While under the animal was weighed, measured, and had blood samples taken as well as its reproductive status checked before being recovered. This trapping technique, along with the data and samples collected, allows us to monitor age structure, sex ratios, breeding age, genetic diversity, and general overall health of the Sanctuary's animal population. Monitoring of the population is important to ensure its long term survival.

Zoo staff and volunteers processing the animals.

After a number of early mornings and late nights we had over 300 captures of more than 100 individual animals. This included 44 Southern-brown Bandicoot, 14 Woylie, 21 Long-nosed Potoroo, 12 Rufous Bettong, three Tammar Wallaby, three Red-necked Wallaby and 10 Brush-tailed Possums. We also had some exciting news with the capture of three Yellow-footed Antechinus. This species has not been recorded in the Sanctuary since the 1990's. The Yellow-footed Antechinus is a small carnivorous marsupial weighing up to 60 grams and with a very interesting breeding set up. During the breeding season males' mate so frantically that they die after their first season, only living for 12 months! The females can give birth to up to 12 young, but she only has 10 teats so will raise up to 10 young in a season.

One of the Yellow-footed Antechinus discovered during the cenus.

Overall the Census ran very smoothly, and was a great success. A big thank you to everyone that was involved especially those that volunteered their time!

Mick Post
Team Leader, Warrawong Sanctuary