These web pages provide background information and
a contact point for those concerned about the decline of mammals in
northern Australia, and those working to address this decline
through research projects or management programs.
In particular, there is a summary of the
proceedings and outcomes of a workshop about mammal decline held in
Darwin in February 2009.
The sub-menus on the left-hand side of this page
will take you to further information including background reading
material and links to relevant documents.
 |
|
One of the mammals under threat: the northern
quoll
|
There is substantial recent evidence of rapid declines and local
extinctions of many native mammals in extensive areas of northern
Australia. This has occurred across all types of land
tenures, including large conservation reserves, and represents the
most substantial biodiversity conservation challenge facing this
region. The factors causing this decline appear to be a cocktail of
predation by feral cats, inappropriate fire regimes, and vegetation
change due to total grazing pressure, with some possibility of
involvement by disease. The relative contribution of these factors
may vary at different sites and amongst different species; but has
not been clarified.
