Draft:Arid Recovery

• Comment: Well done on creating the draft, and it may potentially meet the relevant requirements (including WP:GNG, WP:NCORP) but presently it is not clear that it does.
  As other reviewers have noted, Wikipedia's basic requirement for entry is that the subject is notable. Essentially subjects are presumed notable if they have received significant coverage in multiple published secondary sources that are reliable, intellectually independent of each other, and independent of the subject. To properly create such a draft page, please see the articles ‘Your First Article’, ‘Referencing for Beginners’ and ‘Easier Referencing for Beginners’.
  Please note that many of the references are not from sources that are considered reliable for establishing notability.
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  Please familiarise yourself with these pages before amending the draft. If you feel you can meet these requirements, then please make the necessary amendments before resubmitting the page. It would help our volunteer reviewers by identifying, on the draft's talk page, the WP:THREE best sources that establish notability of the subject.
  It would also be helpful if you could please identify with specificity, exactly which criteria you believe the page meets (eg "I think the page now meets WP:NCORP criteria #3, because XXXXX").
  Once you have implemented these suggestions, you may also wish to leave a note for me on my talk page and I would be happy to reassess. Cabrils (talk) 00:43, 24 July 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: If this is a nonprofit organization, it should meet WP:ORGCRIT before acceptance. One of the important parts of the draft, the "history" section, lacks proper citations, and many of the sources diverge from the central message—the organization's info—to topics like animals, and some are primary sources e.g Organisation's report. Safari Scribe^{Edits! Talk!} 00:39, 24 July 2024 (UTC)

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Map of Arid Recovery Reserve

Arid Recovery is an independent not-for-profit organisation managing a 123 km² wildlife reserve in South Australia's arid north. The reserve is located 20 km north of Roxby Downs. The organisation pioneers conservation science to help threatened species thrive across the Australian outback.

History

The initiative began in 1997 when ecologists Katherine Moseby and John Read advocated for the creation of a rabbit-free reserve aimed at ecosystem restoration and research. A committee was formed comprising representatives from WMC Resources, the SA Department for Environment & Heritage (now the Department for Environment and Water), and the University of Adelaide, alongside community members forming the Friends of Arid Recovery group, creating a four-way partnership.

The project started with the construction of a 14 km² fenced reserve, where rabbits, cats, and foxes were eradicated. Today, the reserve spans 123 km² and has successfully reintroduced five native species: the greater bilby, burrowing bettong, Shark Bay bandicoot, western quoll, and kowari. Additionally, the numbat and woma python were trialed for reintroduction but were not successfully established.

The reserve is divided into six paddocks: Main Exclosure, First Expansion, Second Expansion, Northern Expansion, Red Lake Expansion, and Dingo Paddock.

Reintroduced species

Burrowing Bettong (Bettongia lesueur)

A burrowing bettong with a radio-tracking collar (photo credit: J. Kelk)

In 1999/2000, Arid Recovery introduced 29 burrowing bettongs from Bernier Island and Heirisson Prong in Western Australia. Without predators like feral cats and foxes or competition from rabbits, their population within the reserve surged to 6000 before declining during the 2018/19 drought. Bettongs are easy to trap and curious, making them vulnerable to predators. This vulnerability hinders their establishment outside the fence. To address this, UNSW and Arid Recovery launched the 'Tackling Prey-Naivety' project to improve bettongs' responses to cats and foxes. The project showed promising results, with bettongs surviving, breeding, and becoming more predator-aware in experimental enclosures with low cat densities.

Historically, the burrowing bettong was widespread across arid and semi-arid regions of Australia but disappeared from the mainland by 1942. Now, they are naturally found on three islands off Western Australia's coast and have been reintroduced to predator-proof enclosures in WA, SA, and NSW. Predation by foxes and feral cats, competition with rabbits, hunting, and habitat loss contributed to their rapid decline. They are listed as vulnerable on the national list of Threatened Species.

Arid Recovery's bettong population boom led to over-browsing and impacted other species. To manage this, one-way gates were installed for natural dispersal outside the reserve, supported by feral predator control. In 2018, western quolls were reintroduced to regulate prey populations, including bettongs, which were confirmed as prey through quoll scat analysis.

Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis)

Since the initial release into Arid Recovery in 2000, the greater bilby population has fluctuated greatly. Efforts to release bilbies outside the fence with predator control and training them to be more predator-savvy were unsuccessful. UNSW and Arid Recovery's project to improve bilbies' anti-predator responses has shown positive results, with bilbies surviving and breeding alongside low cat densities in experimental enclosures.

Once occupying 70% of Australia's mainland, the bilby now exists in scattered populations across various deserts and regions. The decline in bilby range is mainly due to feral predators, grazing by rabbits and livestock, habitat fragmentation, and altered fire regimes. Now classified as vulnerable, the greater bilby faces a precarious future, especially since its relative, the lesser bilby, is now extinct. They have also been reintroduced to protected sites across Australia. Bilbies construct spiral-shaped burrows, which they frequently dig and use to improve soil and vegetation regrowth.

Shark Bay Bandicoot (Perameles bougainville)

In 2000, 11 Shark Bay Bandicoots from Bernier Island, WA, were released into Arid Recovery, marking the species' only presence outside WA. The population now estimates at 500 individuals. In 2009, a supplementary release from Faure Island, WA, increased genetic diversity. Interestingly, this species differs from the original bandicoot native to the arid zone, identified through research as multiple species, of which only the Shark Bay Bandicoot remains

Predation by cats and foxes, grazing by rabbits, and fire regime changes led to their mainland extinction. Listed as endangered, fewer than 3000 remain in the wild. The species is also threatened by a wart virus, which can cause severe health issues. Arid Recovery ensures disease-free bandicoots through quarantine measures.

Western Quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii)

In 2015/16, a trial reintroduction of the western quoll to Arid Recovery proved successful, with quolls establishing territories and breeding. By 2018, 12 more quolls were introduced, aiming to restore balanced predator-prey dynamics.

Once inhabiting over 70% of Australia, the western quoll now occupies only 2% of its former range, primarily in southwestern WA, and is listed as vulnerable. Their decline is due to habitat modification, feral predators, and competition for food. They are highly promiscuous, with females mating with multiple males, and their young mature at one year

Arid Recovery excludes quolls from the Main Exclosure to study their ecosystem impact and monitors their survival outside the reserve to understand dispersal factors

References

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Categories:

• Conservation and environmental foundations in Australia