Conservation strategy for Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo on the
Atherton Tablelands.
Author
Kanowski, J, Winter, JW, Simmons, T, Tucker, NIJ
Published
2003
Journal Title
Ecological Management & Restoration
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1442-8903.2003.01691.x
Copyright Statement
© 2003 Blackwell Publishing. The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-
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Link to published version
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1442-8903.2003.01691.x
Griffith Research Online
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Conservation strategy for Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo on the Atherton Tablelands.
J. Kanowski
1
, J.W. Winter
2
, T. Simmons
3
and N. I. J. Tucker
3
(
1
Rainforest CRC,
Environmental Studies, Griffith University, Nathan 4111 Australia;
2
Freelance
Zoologist, P.O. Box 151, Ravenshoe 4872 Australia;
3
Biotropica Australia Pty Ltd, P.O.
Box 866, Malanda 4885 Australia).
Citation details:
Kanowski, J., Winter, J.W., Simmons, T. and Tucker, N.I.J. (2003) Conservation
strategy for Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo on the Atherton Tablelands. Ecological
Management and Restoration. 4, 220-221.
Key words: arboreal mammal, corridors, habitat, rainforest restoration.
Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi) is a large (10 kg max.) arboreal
marsupial endemic to the rainforests of north Queensland, Australia. According to
museum records, community surveys and spotlighting data, the species is most
abundant in higher elevation rainforests (above 700 – 800 m a.s.l.) on the Atherton
Tablelands, particularly on fertile basalt soils (Newell 1999; Kanowski et al. 2001a, b).
Clearing has reduced the area of this prime habitat for D. lumholtzi from approximately
66 000 ha to 25 000 ha. Extensive areas of prime habitat are now restricted to the
Herberton Range on the western edge of the Tablelands (Fig 1).
Tree-kangaroos still inhabit many remnant forests on the Tablelands, but their long-term
persistence in this highly modified landscape is threatened by clearing, road-kills and
dog attacks (Newell 1999; Kanowski et al. 2001a). We believe the conservation of tree-
kangaroos in remnant forests on the Tablelands is important because: (1) remnant
forests support a significant proportion of the total population (remnants comprise about
20% of the remaining prime habitat for D. lumholtzi on the Tablelands); (2) remnant
forests provide connectivity between populations on the Herberton Range and
populations to the north and east of the Tablelands; and (3) tree-kangaroos are
becoming increasingly important to residents of the Tablelands, e.g., as an icon of the
local tourist industry.
We propose that the following actions form the basis of a strategy for the conservation
of tree-kangaroos on the Atherton Tablelands:
1. Conserve prime habitat.
Most of the remaining areas of prime habitat for D. lumholtzi are protected in the Wet
Tropics World Heritage Area, but these areas are incised and partly fragmented by
clearing. These areas could be consolidated by revegetation of cleared land on the
margins of the Herberton Range.
2. Protect and consolidate important remnant populations.
Major remnant populations of tree-kangaroos occur in the vicinity of Yungaburra State
Forest and at the head of the North Johnstone and Barron Rivers (Fig. 1). The dispersal
of individuals from these remnants is thought to play an important role in maintaining
populations in the surrounding landscape (Kanowski et al. 2001b). Some of these
remnants are privately owned and require protection, e.g. by conservation agreement,
regulation or acquisition. In the longer term, the conservation of remnant populations
may require measures to increase population size (e.g. the revegetation of land adjacent
to remnants) and to improve connectivity with extensive areas of prime habitat.
3. Improve connectivity between remnant populations and extensive areas of prime
habitat.
The persistence of tree-kangaroos in remnant forests on the Tablelands may depend on
the dispersal of individuals from extensive areas of prime habitat, e.g. to maintain
genetic diversity (Bowyer et al. 2002) or to recolonise remnants after droughts, cyclones
or other catastrophes. While considerable effort has been put into replanting rainforest
corridors on the Tablelands (Fig. 1), the existing corridor network does not adequately
connect remnants with rainforests on the Herberton Range. We propose that the corridor
network be expanded to include the restoration of riparian vegetation on all major
streams with headwaters in the Herberton Range (the Barron and North Johnstone
Rivers and their tributaries). This proposal is highly consistent with catchment
management strategies for the Tablelands (e.g. NQ Joint Board 1997).
References
Bowyer, J. C., Newell G. R. and Eldridge M. D. (2002) Genetic effects of habitat
contraction on Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo (Dendrolagus lumholtzi) in the Australian Wet
Tropics. Conservation Genetics 3, 59-67.
Kanowski J., Felderhof L., Newell G., Parker T., Schmidt C., Wilson R. and Winter
J.W. (2001a) Community survey of the distribution of Lumholtz’s Tree-kangaroo on the
Atherton Tablelands, north-east Queensland. Pacific Conservation Biology 7, 79-86.
Kanowski J., Hopkins M.S., Marsh H. and Winter J.W. (2001b) Ecological correlates of
folivore abundance in north Queensland rainforests. Wildlife Research 28, 1-8.
Newell G. R. (1999) Australia’s tree-kangaroos: current issues in their conservation.
Biological Conservation 87, 1-12.
NQ Joint Board (1997) Barron River Catchment Rehabilitation Plan. NQ Joint Board,
Cairns.
List of figures
Fig. 1. Map of the Atherton Tablelands showing the distribution of prime habitat of
Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo and the location of existing and proposed rainforest corridors.