Phillip Island Nature Park an example of sustainable ecotourism

Phillip Island Nature Park an example of sustainable ecotourism

Structure of presentation What is the Phillip Island Nature Parks The Nature Parks funding model Visitation Wildlife Research and Ecosystem Management Programs Environmental planning Feral animal management Habitat rehabilitation Wildlife monitoring and protection programs Threatened species translocations Conclusion

Key messages for Phillip Island Nature Parks Phillip Island Nature Parks is a not for profit self-funded organisation dedicated to international excellence in nature conservation and eco tourism Only 90 minutes from Melbourne, Phillip Island Nature Parks manages over 1805 hectares of crown land on Phillip Island and is the largest employer on Phillip Island Phillip Island Nature Parks is committed to preserving and protecting Phillip Island s wildlife and natural environment

Ecotourism funds conservation Over $3.5M committed to wildlife research and ecosystem management programs each year Environmental Planning Feral animal management Fox eradication program Feral cat, rabbit control Habitat rehabilitation Wildlife monitoring and protection programs Hooded Plovers Short-tailed shearwaters Little Penguins Australian fur seals Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation Threatened species translocations

Environment management planning Strategic Plan 2012 2017 Environment Plan 2012-2017 Plans for key areas or reserves: Vegetation Management Plans Fire Management Plans Aboriginal heritage assessment Pest animal strategies Fox Eradication Strategy Cat Control Strategy Rabbit Control Strategy Ensures on-ground work is guided, efficient and up to date with latest techniques and protocols

Fox eradication program Kill up to 300 penguins per year Fox control program began in 1980 s Eradication strategy from 2007 The control techniques used include: treadle snaring and soft-jaw trapping spotlight shooting hunting with fox hounds den fumigation 1080 baiting Fox detection dogs and handler No sign of a fox since August 2015 No penguins killed >5 years

Number seen per hour spotlighting Cat control Major threat to biodiversity Trapping program since 1997 Over 2,000 cats removed from the park since 1997 Potential meso-predator release from fox control New cat research project on efficacy of control techniques Develop cat control strategy Council introducing domestic cats laws curfew and de-sexing Crucial to threatened species translocations 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 Cat Fox

Habitat rehabilitation - Summerland Peninsula Summerland Peninsula home to penguin colonies and Penguin Parade Sub-divided in 1920s 773 lots Major threat to penguins 1985 2010 buy back of 183 houses, shop, motel, museum 2011 2013 rehabilitation program Demolish remaining houses Remove power lines and poles, underground power and optic fibre Weed control Install 2000 penguins boxes Revegetate with 120,000 native plants Penguin census before and after Penguin distribution increased

Little Penguins Threats: habitat destruction, foxes, cats, dogs, fire, roadkill, weeds, pollution Mitigating threats Buy-back program of houses in the Estate Road closures Fox eradication Cat control Dog regulations Weed control and habitat rehabilitation Research and monitoring program in 48 th year longest running in Australia Terrestrial threats eliminated or greatly reduced Population now limited by marine influences (fish, oil spills) Population more than doubled since 1984

Hooded Plovers Small shore bird, nests on beaches in warmer months Listed as vulnerable in Vic, population <600 24 years of monitoring and active protection Threats: foxes, cats, dogs, disturbance, weeds, pollution Manage threats: Predators, education, enforcement, refuge areas, volunteers One of the only populations with sustained increase in SE Australia

Short-tailed Shearwaters >1 million on Phillip Island 5-8% of world population Nest in burrows along coast 300 000 juveniles fledge annually Threats: habitat destruction, foxes, cats, dogs, fire, roadkill, weeds, pollution Manage threats: Habitat rehabilitation Predator control Shearwater Patrol Population almost doubled since 1978

Australian Fur Seals Hunted to near extinction in the 1800s Monitoring of the population since 1960s Research into their diet and foraging behaviour Remove entanglements from seals Long term monitoring and research led to protection of species Population on Seal Rocks increased to around 30,000 Population of species nearing prehunting level

Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation Two dedicated fulltime staff for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation Wildlife clinic, can cater for up to 1,500 penguins In 2015/16: Cared for 120 penguins Cared for 329 other species from 48 different species Responded to 820 wildlife rescue calls Also: Conduct oiled wildlife response training Conduct oil spill response exercises

Threatened species translocations Eastern Barred Bandicoots Critically endangered Only exist on mainland in fenced reserves 20 released on Churchill Island, off Phillip Island, in 2015 Churchill Island rabbit, cat and fox free Population has more than doubled 15 of 20 release animals captured in June 2016 Proposed release on Summerland Peninsula Other candidates e.g. Long-nosed potoroo, Southern Brown Bandicoots, Bush stone-curlew

Conclusion The Nature Park uses ecotourism to fund conservation $28M revenue in 2015/16 $3.5M back to conservation Successful wildlife management programs: Little Penguin population more than doubled since 1984 Hooded Plover population sustained increase Short-tailed Shearwater population doubled since 1978 Translocation of Eastern Barred Bandicoot Wildlife populations in turn provides tourism opportunities An example of sustainable ecotourism

Acknowledgements Dr Roz Jessop Environment Manager Stuart Murphy Fox Eradication Project Manager Dr Duncan Sutherland Research Biologist Dr Rebecca McIntosh Research Biologist Environment team 20 Fulltime Rangers Little Penguins