Woylie Connection
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Our Woylie research project, Woylie Connection, saw the arrival of the last of the Woylies in April 2011. A total of 16 Woylies were successfully located into the Small Mammal Facility - two males and two females in each of the four enclosures. The animals all settled in well and each established their own hiding places for the daytime. In May 2011, when we trapped the animals for testing associated with the research program, it was noted that there were few signs of battle scars, indicating they had all ajusted to each other. It was also noted that all females were pregnant, a really good sign they had adjusted to each other. Subsequently all the females gave birth to young and in due course these young have been relocated to a nature reserve to become part of the Woylie populations established by DEC as part of their Woylie conservation program. We have been able to confirm that they were not affected by the recent fires, which is great news.
The research project, designed to improve our understanding of the impact of blood parasites on the health of Woylie populations and the transmission of these parasites between animals, is well under way and is providing data which the scientists say is very informative (hopefully we will be able to provide a summary early in 2012, following a planned presentation on the project). The research project is being undertaken jointly by Murdoch University, Department of Environment and Conservation and NAR.
The November 2011 health checks confirmed the woylies are still going strong. The enclosures are full of diggings (woylies searching for their favourite food, native truffles). There are numerous nest sites among the natural vegetation (places of rest for the woylies during the day) and all of the woylies are maintaining body condition and weight. All of the females continue to produce young at an amazing rate. So far we have relocated three female and two male offspring to DEC approved enclosures, with another four ready for relocation in December and another three early next year.
Native Animal Rescue costs to support the Woylie Connection project are approximately $100 per week. You can support it either through cash donations or through the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables for their diet. If you would like to specifically support this project, contact us at NAR to discuss your involvement.
Background
We have discovered some interesting characteristics about Woylie behaviour in pens. Sitting there one night remotely watching via the infra-red CCTV set up in the pens (Woylies are nocturnal), we were stunned to see this face appear at the top of the 2m high fence. Stunned, because the bottom half of the fence was purposely built from solid steel sheet to prevent animals in the pens getting a foothold for climbing. As we watched, the Woylie quickly gained confidence, climbed to the top and using its tail for balance, swung over and climbed down the other side of the fence. An intersting start to a research project that depends on the animals staying in their allotted pens. We soon discovered they had more than one way of scaling the fences.
Check out the video clips taken at night with an infrared camera (so visibility is limited) situated over the centre point where the four animal pens met at a set of four way gates.
In the LHS clip you can see a Woylie sitting on top of the fence (a 40mm diam galv pipe). You will see it use its tail for balance then swing over the other side and climb down backwards.
In the RHS clip, if you look at the very top of the picture, you will see a Woylie first try to usuccessfully jump up and then more successfully reach up and climb. It disappears out of view at the top of the fence then you can see it land on the other side, obviously jumping from the top to the ground.
It seems the animals reach to their full extent off the ground, above the 1m high sheeting at the base, grab the wire with their front paws and drag themselves up to get a foothold with their back feet on the wire. From there they simply climb to the top.
When we constructed the facility, we fitted floppy top (a flexible overhang intended to stop feral cats climbing into the pens) to both the outside and inside of the perimeter fences, to prevent any animals climbing in or out. Having witnessed their climbing ability, the fencing contractors were hastily recalled to set about fitting floppy tops to all internal fences as well.
While observing the behaviour of the animals, we also observed that these animals clearly believe that the grass is always greener on the other side. Every chance they could get, they were pushing their noses into every gap between gates and fences and through the hand-holes, for operating the locking pins in the gates. The gates at the centre point where the four pens meet are a particular focus of such activity and climbing, so we set about replacing all the wire on the gates with sheet steel and covering every gap around the gates with insertion rubber to stop them pushing their noses into the gaps.
With all those modifications, we have successfully and safely contained these escape artists and we express our sincere thanks to Ambit Industries, our fencing contractors, for their tremendous cooperation during what was a steep learning curve for us all.
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