Parma wallabies: a history of translocations and reintroductions

Abstract

The Parma wallaby Notamacropus parma has an unusual status, being both classified as Near Threatened in Australia yet subject to pest control in areas where it has been introduced. Until 1966, the species was believed to be extinct. In that year, it was confirmed as one of the abundant wallabies on Kawau Island, Aotearoa New Zealand where they had been introduced a century before. N. parma is patchily distributed at low densities in moist forests along the Great Dividing Range in northern New South Wales. It is a Critical Weight Range macropod subject to predation from introduced carnivores. In fox-free New Zealand, the species has thrived both on Kawau Island and to a lesser extent near Rotorua, despite attempts to eradicate all introduced wallabies. Reintroductions to unoccupied environments in the wild in Australia have so far been unsuccessful, predators wiped out small populations within three months. By contrast N. parma have thrived in predator-free enclosures in moist environments at elevation at Yengo, Mt Wilson and Barrington Tops, NSW. Eradication of N. parma from New Zealand is underway. This review explores the status of N. parma populations, their natural history, the history of translocations, current zoo and wildlife sanctuary holdings in Australia and across the globe. It discusses the importance of safe havens and other management prescriptions. Show more