Idnya Landbridge
Idnya/Western Quoll (Dasyurus Geoffroii) is South Australia's largest native carnivore and was once common across most of the southern half of the continent. The arrival of European settlers brought land clearance, feral predators and human persecution and their numbers were decimated in the late 19th century. Following a reintroduction of 53 individuals in Ikara/Wilpena Pound in 2014, Idnya has established on the north-east corner of Arkaba Conservancy after an absence of over 100 years.
Our vision is to create a landbridge across Arkaba to allow quolls to repopulate the western side of the conservancy where perfect haabitat exists - the challenge is to ease a route across Arkaba's central country where previous grazing by sheep has opened up the country and a high concentration of rabbits has provided a feeding ground for cats - an effective barrier to quoll dispersal.
Strategies to support the repopulation of quolls at Arkaba include:
1. The removal of feral predators, especially foxes and feral cats
2. The removal of rabbits and by implication the effective removal of a primary source of prey for cats
3. Monitoring for quoll presence: at one level through camera monitors and at a more substantial level with an annual trapping survey to assess the health of the quoll population and their gender distribution across the property
4. Research to understand the relationship between competitor species, habitat and quolls
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Arkaba receives support from National Parks and the South Australian Arid Landscapes Board in the removal of rabbit warrens and the trapping and baiting of feral predators