The WIRES National Grants Program was developed to provide ongoing support for wildlife and their habitats across Australia. It aims to support projects that preserve species and their habitats and raise awareness to inspire community involvement in the protection of Australian wildlife.
The Dwarf Galaxias is considered an endangered fish species due to a range of threatening processes including habitat loss and changes in hydrology through increased urbanisation, as well predation and competition from various introduced fish species.
The Galaxiella Billabong Habitat Enhancement Project will involve habitat modification works including the planting of riparian and aquatic vegetation. This waterbody was chosen as it is not connected to other waterbodies and is free of introduced fish. Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary is also collaborating with Native Fish Australia (NFA) to establish a breeding program for the Dwarf Galaxias to help promote a healthy level of genetic diversity and population sustainability amongst the insurance population. Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary and NFA will also be conducting surveys, alongside the instillation of a water-level maintenance system and other long-term monitoring protocols to ensure a healthy quantity quality of not only the Galaxias, but the billabong as a whole. With this coordination of conservation measures, Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary hopes to ensure long-term viability (and ultimately self-sustaining population) of the endangered species and work to restore ecological balance in the area.
Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary wishes to thank WIRES for its support, without them, vital work could not have been done. The Galaxiella Billabong Habitat Enhancement Project showcases the sanctuary’s dedication to conserving vulnerable species and the impact of WIRES National Grant’s Program in working towards their mission of preserving Australian wildlife and inspiring others to do the same.
This project received grant funding from WIRES through their annual National Grants Program. For more information go to National Wildlife Grant Programs - Wildlife Programs - WIRES
