Warrigal Preserve
|
 Wild Watch owns " Warrigal," a highland tropical rainforest preserve on the Evelyn Tablelands, southwest of Cairns. Situated at 1000 metres elevation, the preserve adjoins a State Forest fauna sanctuary within the largest single tract of tropical rainforest remaining in Australia.
The preserve and surrounding World Heritage listed area are home to rare, unique and primitive plants and animals, many of which are considered locally endemic. Giant emergent trees dominate the canopy and provide habitat for up to 12 species of possum (including the rare white lemuroid), and Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo. In addition, red-legged pademelons, swamp wallabies, musky rat-kangaroos, tiger quolls, bandicoots, flying foxes, insectivorous bats, forest dragons, leaf-tailed geckos, pythons and many other species are often seen while spotlighting |
|
|
Over 200 bird species have been observed within the preserve including Victoria's
Riflebird, Golden and Tooth-billed Bowerbirds, Chowchilla, Fernwren, Bassian Thrush,
Blue-faced Finch, White-throated Nightjar, Red-backed Quail, Cassowary and even an
Emu with chicks! Rufous and Lesser Sooty Owls, Pacific Baza and the white morph of
the Grey Goshawk have all nested within the preserve in recent years. Masked Owl, Little
Eagle, Square-tailed Kite and Red Goshawk are often seen early in the year.Ideally situated close to a rainforest-eucalypt ecotone, the preserve and surrounding fauna sanctuary are recognized as having one of the largest concentrations of possum species and tree-kangaroos. With such an abundance of wildlife, daytime birdwatching and nocturnal wildlife viewing by spotlighting are both exciting and rewarding.
The 'before' and 'after' photos of a 20-acre section of Warrigal that was cleared for pastureland prior to our tenure. As part of our ongoing rainforest restoration project, over 15,000 native trees have been been planted in this area since 1995. With the help of fruit bats and birds attracted to the replantings, we are already seeing a natural recruitment of certain major rainforest tree species. Mammals such as tree-kangaroos and several species of possums have also begun using the newly forested area.
|
|
Approach to "Warrigal"
Feb 2003 |
