Question On Notice No. 271 asked in the Legislative Council on 15 August 2013 by Hon Lynn Maclaren
Question Directed to the: Minister for Mental Health representing the Minister for Environment
Question Directed to: Hon A.P. Jacob
Parliament: 39 Session: 1
Tabled Paper No: 849-
View tabled paper
Question
With regard to the translocation of the Western Ringtail Possums, I ask:
(a) did any of the Conservation and Land Management/Department of Environment and Conservation ringtail possum release sites used from 1994-2008, that were designated as suitable in answer to question on notice No. 6341 on 27 November 2012, retain a persistent ringtail possum population during the period 2009-2012;
(b) if yes to (a), will the Minister table reports that document this; and
(c) if no to (b), why not?
Answered on 15 October 2013
(a) Yes.
(b) Yes. A summary of the Western Ringtail Possum translocation work between 1994 and 2007, with details of survival of translocated populations, is provided in the Murdoch University PhD thesis by Judith Clarke (2011) titled "Translocation Outcomes for the Western Ringtail Possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis) in the Presence of the Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpedula): Health, Survivorship and Habitat Use". [see tabled paper no]. With respect to the 2012 translocation, it is too early to report on success, other than the initial monitoring reported in answer to Question on Notice 6341.
(c) Not applicable.