Australian Wildlife Conservancy Quiz

Answer: 1991

Founded in 1991, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2021. The aim of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy is to deliver effective, science-informed conservation of threatened wildlife in Australia.

Answer: Martin Copley

Martin Copley was an Englishman who came to Australia and recognised that there was a need for conservation of endangered species. Copley first came to Australia in 1966 working as a finance and insurance underwriter. In 1991 Copley purchased property consisting of natural bushland and thus started the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Answer: Perth Hills

Copley purchased a property in the Perth Hills, Karakamia, in 1991. It was established as a sanctuary in 1992, thus becoming the first property owned by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Interestingly it was a property bought for the endangered numbat and golden finch rather than other better-known Australian marsupials.

Answer: Bilby

The bilby is an example of an animal that was found throughout Australia, originally occupying 70% of the country, whereas now it occupies only around 15%. Australian Wildlife Conservancy chose it as its logo carefully, as it was a small marsupial without a lot of media coverage, and it had been impacted by environmental loss extensively.

It is believed the name bilby comes from the Yuwaalaraay Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales, meaning long-nosed rat.

Answer: True

Australian Wildlife Conservancy in 2021 protects 6.5 million hectares in Australia, making it one of the largest worldwide private conservation organisations in the world. The properties owned by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy are significant areas of endangered species and concentrates on land animals, bird life, reptiles and frogs.

Answer: True

Australian Wildlife Conservancy's focus includes land management. In this regard, Australian Wildlife Conservancy in 2021 protects 6.5 million hectares in Australia. The extent of property ownership makes it one of the largest worldwide private conservation organisations in the world.

The properties owned by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy includes significant areas of endangered species and concentrate on land animals, bird life, reptiles and frogs. An example of this is Karakamia, which has been fenced to exclude predators from the property. Because of the fencing, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy have successfully reintroduced species.

Not only animals but bird life have been rewarded with this approach to saving not only the animals but the land also.

Answer: Ecological Research

The Australian Wildlife Conservancy emphasis on Ecological Research encompasses studies of what exactly happens in the process of a species becoming threatened. Studies include such things as environment, fire, feral animals (both in competition for food, predators and their impact).

Not only does the Conservancy study the threats but instigates how to address these threats and ensure recovery from those threats.

Answer: Tasmania

Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory does not have sanctuaries provided for by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia have all benefited from the establishment of sanctuaries in their States. Hopefully it will be only a matter of time for these excluded States to benefit from a sanctuary controlled by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Answer: Fire

Australian Wildlife Conservancy has been front-runners with research and developing operational plans for fire management especially in relation to the improvement of ecological health. The strategy includes prescribed and planned burning in the dry season.

The burns have demonstrated a recovery of small mammal populations in those area. The added assistance of the indigenous people's involvement with fire management has ensured that their land management and fire control procedures are at the foremost of scientific knowledge.

Answer: Cat

Feral cats have a huge impact on Australian wildlife, killing millions of native animals every day. It is believed that there are over three million feral cats across Australia.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy's strategy to eliminate feral cats includes establishing a national network of massive, fenced feral cat-free havens. Furthermore it wishes to develop strategies to reduce the impact of the cats outside the fenced areas and to further join in partnership with other organisations such as the CSIRO to develop gene-driven technology to obtain long-term solutions.