June Butcher, founder of the Kanyana Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and our member and guest speaker for the general meeting, gave us an insight into the aims and functioning of the rehab centre now located in the now very well rehabilitated wildlife centre at 120 Gilchrist Rd, Lesmurdie. The main thrust of the talk was bilbies – the secret life thereof, until now, for June and her devoted team of volunteers have done much serious scientific research into what goes on in the inner sanctum of the burrows of bilbies.
In the past bilbies could be found across about 70% of Australia. Enter the usual ferals and the percentage drops to around 20% at most and dwindling. Gradually, however, the number of bilbies in the wild is being restored thanks to the breeding programmes being carried out by the likes of Kanyana with DEC, and safe release areas like Peron Peninsula, Dryandra, Loxby Downs etc., which have ‘soft’ release facilities (semi-bush but fully protected) before full release in the same area such as we have at Dryandra and photographed by Mike Griffiths with camera traps recently.
It all started at Kanyana in 1996 when baby Bet-Bet, an emaciated little female bilby was flown down to June. Bet-Bet survived along with Basil from Broome thanks to DEC. From this small beginning the serious business of breeding bilbies for release began under the auspices of DEC and the Central Keeper in S. Australia. At the latter a studbook is kept of all the animals in breeding programmes throughout Australia, enabling monitoring of the exchanges between centres and ensuring that healthy bloodlines are maintained. Kanyana has seen 140 bilbies pass through its doors and has turned out around 100 babies. An average of 15 bilbies is on Kanyana’s books at any time, and we were privileged to see the current crop the following evening inside a large, netted enclosure with spacious enclosures either side of the central isle – in one, mother with two cute little offspring in tow. Cameras lowered into the burrows have revealed many new secrets of the lives of bilbies when underground. For instance, during peak daylight hours Bilbies shut their systems down – body temperatures and breathing drop considerably, leaving them in a torpor thus conserving considerable energy. A full moon signals a lay night with no venturing out – too visible to predators? Mating takes place underground and is a rather drawn out process … up to 18 hours at a time! So drawn out that the record of one such engagement shows the larger male going to sleep on the job and toppling sideways! Energy saving again maybe?
In another first, June waited many years to record the actual birth of a Bobtail – that phone call at the crucial moment or some other distraction at the crucial moment – but then success! The quite large youngster had a battle for a start but mum raised her rear end a little and the baby, once its front feet touched the ground, helped itself the rest of the way. Then there was a tussle of who would feast on the after birth. Baby won!
It was great to hear the story of Kanyana, see the film shots of bilbies (even giving birth) and then having the privilege of seeing the institution itself and some of its inhabitants first hand. A remarkable achievement for June and her numerous team. We look forward to the next stage, hopefully mid 2012 – the new Education Centre. Thank you June and staff.
Kevn Griffiths