Conservation at Jenolan - Saving Our Species Program

Saving our Species (SoS) is the NSW government’s flagship threatened species conservation program. Jenolan Caves is a priority SoS site for the conservation of the endangered Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby, a species once common across NSW but which has declined due to fox predation and habitat loss.

Numbering at just 7 animals in 1999, the rock-wallaby population at Jenolan has made a spectacular recovery to over 200 today, thanks to the ongoing control of foxes and feral cats across the site by NPWS and the staff at Jenolan. Other species such as gliders, spotted-tailed quolls and koalas have also benefited from the control of introduced predators, making Jenolan an outstanding threatened species hotspot. Jenolan Caves Reserve Trust has partnered with SoS and NPWS and provides in-kind support for the project.

Rock-wallaby monitoring at Jenolan has been occurring over a period of three days, twice annually, for over 25 years. 50 cage traps are placed throughout the colony and all wallabies captured are given thorough health checks by NPWS threatened species officers and vets from Taronga Zoo. Newly captured animals are microchipped and have a small genetic sample collected. Over time, this provides a good indication of the size and health of the population.

During the most recent monitoring trip in March, 76 rock-wallabies were captured. The current population at Jenolan is around 230 animals – a remarkable increase of 100% since the site was burnt at high intensity during the 2019/20 bushfire.

Special thanks to: NPWS, DCCEEW, Saving our Species project, JCRT and Taronga Zoo

Written by Michaela Jones - Threatened Species Team at NPWS

Images: Dr Anne Musser