Weighing only 4 grams, the Mallee Emu-Wren is a weak flyer and is particularly vulnerable to bushfires. Unable to cross large, open areas, the species has disappeared from large parts of its former range. The birds spend most of their time close to the ground in dense cover, darting between patches of Mallee spinifex. Zoos Victoria estimates there are between 7,500 and 35,500 birds left in the wild, placing the species in the endangered category.
The Big Desert Wilderness Park was once a stronghold for the Mallee Emu-wren. The Telopea Downs Safe Haven Project aims to reintroduce individuals of this species into the National Park, to increase the Park’s existing population.
Our latest project, Carbon Landscapes is working in partnership with Zoos Victoria and Trust for Nature to determine if our Telopea Downs property can support species, such as the Mallee Emu-wren and their habitat requirements. Over the next 12 months we will be undertaking flora and fauna surveys of the property to ensure that the area is suitable for the Mallee Emu-wren and other target species.
