Bold steps to protect native species on French Island
French Island’s land managers are continuing the transformative conservation efforts to safeguard the island’s native wildlife.
Through a project called French Island Priority Place – Creating a Wildlife Safe Haven land managers are working to eradicate the island’s feral cat population and in doing so take a critical step toward making the island a sanctuary free of introduced predators.
If successful, the ambitious project would provide a haven for the island’s small marsupials including the Long-nosed Potoroo and Eastern Barred Bandicoot which are vulnerable to feral cat predation.
With French Island, Victoria’s largest island, already free of foxes, the removal of feral cats would be a game-changing next step.
Feral cats pose a serious challenge to Australia’s biodiversity, impacting native wildlife populations and are a recognised threat to over more than 200 nationally threatened species. They have also contributed to been a factor in the extinction of more than 20 Australian mammal species.
Melbourne Water leads the French Island Priority Place project in partnership with Parks Victoria, the Federal Government’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), the Victorian Government’s Department of Energy, the Environment and Climate Action (DEECA), and the French Island community, represented by the French Island Landcare Group and Community Association.
This project is funded by the Australian Government Natural Heritage Trust and Saving Native Species programs delivered by Melbourne Water, a member of the Commonwealth Regional Delivery Partners panel.
The project builds on efforts initiated by the French Island Landcare Group and expanded through the Feral Cat Free French Island project. The current initiative is designed in three phases:
- Broad-scale reduction of the feral cat population, targeted removal of remaining individuals, and
- Ongoing monitoring to prevent re-establishment.
“This is a landmark conservation effort,” said John Woodland, Manager Regional Services, South East, at Melbourne Water. “Eradicating feral cats will significantly enhance the prospects for French Island’s native species, creating a predator-free refuge.”
Community involvement is essential for the project’s long-term success, through support from the French Island community and responsible pet ownership.
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Melbourne Water Media Team
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