A diverse array of native animals have continued to be spotted on Yarra Ranges Council’s fauna motion-sensing cameras since the project launched in 2015.
Organised by Council’s Bushlands team, the fauna motion-sensing cameras have a range of up to five meters, and are used within conservation reserves. to assist in capturing the region’s wildlife.
From February to August, the fauna monitoring cameras have captured wombats, wallabies, kreft gliders, echidnas, possums and even koalas, with native animals making up an impressive 70 per cent of all observed fauna.
Similarly, the cameras have also captured the presence of introduced species—Foxes, Rabbits, Deer, and Black Rats.
Yarra Ranges Council, Weed Management Officer Paul Smitka said the fauna motion-sensing cameras function as an invaluable tool, offering insights into the nuanced interactions between fauna and their environment.
“Our role is to manage bushland assets, to improve conservation value and to protect native animals by preserving native vegetation. Using this data allows us to see the habitat value these bushland assets provide for our wildlife,” he said.
“Each year, we can see the types of animals using these reserves and the fauna monitoring program not only reveals anticipated residents but also surprises us with occasional appearances of goannas, bandicoots, lyrebirds and even koalas.”
“By protecting biodiversity in the Yarra Ranges, we ensure providing the right habitat for our fauna and flora for future generations.”
