Committee members need to commit to one meeting a month and have access to email. You don’t have to know everything about Numbats, as we’re looking for people who are productive and willing to have a go. Liking Numbats helps though. Contact info@numbat.org.au to find out more.

Numbat with Radio Collar. Photo courtesy of Perth Zoo.

In November and December 2012, DEC will be fitting a number of Numbats with radio-collars. The Numbats will either by wild caught or bred at Perth Zoo for release.

We are giving you the opportunity to be a part of this important work by contributing to the cost of the radio-collars.

Each collar costs $250 and for your contribution you will receive a certificate with a photo of the collared Numbat, its name, date of birth (if known), sex, weight of location.

All contributions are tax-deductible within Australia.

You will receive a letter of thanks and a receipt after we receive payment. Certificates will be sent in January 2013.

If you would like to donate, download the radio-collar form (pdf) and send it in to us.

Last year we raised $4000 which purchased 16 collars. We’re hoping for an even better result this year. You might like to raise money in your school or workplace to fund a collar. We can provide a certificate for individuals or organisations.

Since 2005 the Australasian Society of Zoo Keeping (a.k.a ASZK) have run a ‘Bowling for…’ event to raise funds for the society and make a generous donation to a nominated conservation organisation. Institutes Australasia wide are encouraged to host lawn or ten pin bowling events for this great cause.

Last year Project Numbat’s application was chosen for the 2012 event to assist funding predator control research and raising community awareness for the plight of the Numbat.

The Numbat was once spread across much of southern Australia, but is now found only in remnant habitat patches in the South-west of W.A. Its decline can be attributed to habitat loss and the introduction of feral predators, which is an all too common story. This unique species is the only one of its genus, and population estimates are sadly below 1000 individuals.

As usual, we hit up the South Perth Bowls Club and were lucky enough to get the run of the entire venue! The night kicked off with a complimentary Sausage sizzle, supplies donated generously by Como IGA, before everyone got stuck into warming up their bowling skills. (We only had one lecture about drinking on the green, which I think is a good effort.)

We had some lanes dedicated to those who just wanted to have a bit of fun, and then the rest of the lanes for those who desired to win the prestigious ‘Termite Cup’. (Not a real ‘cup’, for those of you following the story.) As one would probably have guessed, guests who had some idea of the actual rules were the winners (Well done IIsley’s!), each taking home one of our specially made ‘Bowling for’ shirts, and a voucher for a group paint balling session.

Those who didn’t bowl, and simply enjoyed the free snacks and a very reasonably priced bar, also had a chance at taking home a winning with our raffle. All the gifts were again, kindly donated, and the quality so good, we sold every single ticket from the raffle books! Congratulations to Stuart Romero for claiming the top prize and to everyone else who got to choose from the impressive assortment.

We alone raised around $1500 from the night and can’t wait to hear how the numerous other events faired.

The Project Numbat committee can’t thank the following supporters enough for their time, gifts and donations: Como IGA, South Perth Bowls Club, Captain Cook Cruises, Betterlife Health and Wellness Studio, Heard of a Bird, Armadale Reptile Centre, Matt IIsley, Louise Kahler, Janet Reid, Petra Hancock, The Fabric Printer and our friends who came out late on a ‘school’ night and made it what it was!

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Project Numbat is deeply concerned at any activity that adds more pressure to the survival of the endangered Numbat.

At a time when all indications are that the Numbat’s population is in serious decline, more should be done to protect this animal rather than increase the threats it faces.

And while the Numbat is in such a precarious position, the loss of even one animal is unacceptable.

We are aware that logging has taken place in the area near Warrup Forest before and Numbats have persisted.

However, recent research into the effects of logging on Numbats is lacking and thus it is too big a risk to the species for logging to continue without it.

Estimates put the number of Numbats left in the wild at 1,000 though the actual figure is likely to be much, much less.

As Western Australia’s mammal emblem, the Government has a responsibility to see it doesn’t become extinct.

We have written to the Premier and the Environment Minister to do more to save the Numbat.

Not only should the logging of their forest homes be stopped but research and funding into the control of feral predators should also be increased.

Concerned members of the community should contact Environment Minister Bill Marmion and/or Premier Colin Barnett and call for more to be done to help the Numbat.

Alternatively, add your name to the Conservation Council’s online petition at http://ccwa.org.au/ and read more about what is happening in Warrup Forest on their website.

The cameras will also be used in our studies of feral predators (particularly cats) at Dryandra which will result in the design of an integrated feral predator control regime.

Feral predators are a serious issue for the Numbats in Dryandra and the use of camera traps is an important part of the work currently being undertaken.

We’ll be putting up photos from the camera traps on our website and Facebook page when they start to come through. The approximately $6500 for the cameras has been funded through donations and fundraising.

Numbat with Radio Collar. Photo courtesy of Perth Zoo.

Thanks to generous donations in a targeted fundraiser, Project Numbat has raised $4000 for Numbat radio-collars this year, enough for 16 Numbats. This is seven more than last year and is a fantastic result. The fundraiser is now closed but we are likely to run it again next year so stay tuned.

Most of the collars were used for 13 Numbats bred at Perth Zoo that were transported to Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Scotia Sanctuary in NSW on 13 December 2011 as part of a national Numbat recovery program.

Scotia Sanctuary already protects two wild populations from feral predators and these Numbats will boost numbers and add to the genetic pool.

All 13 Numbats were fitted with radio-collars so their release will be tracked.  The collars were purchased thanks to donors who contributed $250 each for the purchase of collars.

The money raised has gone to purchase two radio collars for this year’s release of Numbats.

We thank Rostrata PS for another fundraising barbecue and for another one coming up in early December.

Vicki Power, Renee Bauhofer and Rosemary Johnston talked to numerous enthusiastic children, teachers and parents, helping to spread the word about the Numbat and its threats. Vicki was a great hit as the ‘radio tracker extraordinaire’, taking groups of children on radio racking adventures to locate a radio collared stuffed toy Numbat hiding in the bushes of Kings Park! There was a great positive response from attendees with many keen to get involved with Project Numbat’s Education Program.

Thanks go to Kings Park for the opportunity to attend this event again this year.

There were no changes to the current committee and the constitution alterations were all passed unopposed. These will be forwarded to the Department of Commerce for ratification.

Thank you to everyone for your support of Project Numbat in 2010-11. We look forward to a productive and exciting 2011-12.

Download the 2010-11 Project Numbat Annual Report (pdf).

It was a successful day with about 1100 people coming through. We spoke to a number of people about our special little Numbat. Plenty of interest about what we do to help this endangered species and how they could get involved.

Thank you to CREEC for this opportunity.