Toohey Forest Environmental Education Centre staff are using wildlife cameras around the EcoCentre to document wildlife sightings in Toohey Forest.
These cameras have captured an incredible diversity of mammals, reptiles and birds frequenting the area. Notable captures include echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus), Swamp Wallabies (Wallabia bicolor), koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), possums (Trichosurus vulpecula and Pseudocheirus peregrinus) and Squirrel Gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis).
Unfortunately, our monitoring cameras have also recorded introduced predators, including foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cats (Felis catus), which pose a significant threat to native wildlife populations.
Biodiversity monitoring is an extremely valuable tool for establishing a baseline understanding of the plants and animals that occur within an environment. Once this baseline has been established, observations can be compared with historical data to identify changes over time and help to predict potential future impacts. This information can also inform environmental management and planning, allowing us to make appropriate changes and adjustments to support the long-term health and sustainability of the environment.