Encouraging news from South Australia’s Ikara – Flinders Ranges with a research project on Arkaba Homestead’s 60,000 acre private wildlife conservancy to see how far the Western Quoll population has spread from Wilpena Pound since their reintroduction to the area 7 years ago. 

The research was undertaken by Katherine Moseby as part of a PhD project through the University of Adelaide with support from DEW (Department for Environment and Water), Landscapes SA and the National Landcare Program. The camera trap survey revealed 4 different quolls photographed on Arkaba (including one just across from the Homestead), which is the best evidence yet that these native marsupials are in fact thriving on Arkaba.

The initial project was part of a joint re-introduction program with the Brush-tailed Possum, which was also captured on film, marking the strategy successful. The aim was to re-establish both species and to provide the best environment possible through revegetation, rehabilitating the landscape and predator eradication to give the native species the best chance of survival, particularly when conditions are challenging with droughts or altered fire regimes.

Prior to 2014 the Western Quoll, Idnya in the local Adnyamathanha language, had not been recorded in the Ikara – Flinders Ranges for 130 years. The project was staged over 5 years to allow time for the Idnya to breed and build sustainable populations within their traditional homelands in the Ikara – Flinders Ranges. For the first time in living memory, the Adnyamathanha people are able to see their totem animal which features in their dreamtime stories, thriving in the wild.

“We’ve implemented successful conservation programs aimed at reversing the effects of 150 years of livestock grazing, restoring the natural habitat and protecting rare and endangered species on one of Australia’s most beautiful rural properties,” explained Wild Bush Luxury founder, Charlie Carlow.

Guests at Arkaba Homestead have opportunities to participate in rewarding biodiversity projects with some hands-on conservation activities. These can include tracking a radio-collared feral cat with a telemetry device, setting up the trip cameras that monitor key sites across the property, looking for signs of vegetation critical to endangered animals, or joining a biologist on land surveys.  

For more about Arkaba Homestead & Conservancy, visit.