Regional Keystone Species Tracking Project
Federation University in collaboration with Ballarat Wildlife Hospital, Dr Adrienne Lavinia, Nikki Shanahan and Jen Greenhalgh (funded by the Victorian State Government, Fed Uni, BWRAC and WIRES) are undertaking a Keystone Species Tracking project (2023-2026) to track native wildlife who have been treated and rehabilitated, to understand their use of landscape, and how this affects their survival rates post-release.
The keystone species included in the project are koalas, echidnas and birds of prey (such as wedge-tailed eagles and powerful owls) in the Ballarat and surrounding regions. Koalas will be fitted with collars, echidnas and birds of prey with glue-on transmitters and birds of prey will have Australian Bird Banding Scheme (ABBS) leg bands placed.
If you come across any koalas, echidnas or birds of prey (with or without transmitters attached) that you are concerned about (i.e they look sick, injured or are in an unusual place such as a roadway or roadside please contact animal co-ordinator and wildlife carer Jen Greenhalgh immediately on 0409998029 or Nikki Shanahan, Ballarat Wildlife Hospital/ Shanhaven Shelter on 0491866636.
If you come across a deceased koala, echidna or bird of prey, please call Federation University on 03 5327 6880. It will be collected as soon as possible for a post-mortem examination.
If you have any further questions about this research project please contact Lead Researcher Dr Sarah Preston at sj.preston@federation.edu.au or Veterinarian/ Researcher Dr Adrienne Lavinia at a.lavinia@federation.edu.au.
