11 Environmental Systems and

Societies (ESS) 

A date with bugs and rare species

Did you know that the Eastern Swamp Wallaby has a population of less than 50 animals in the wild found in only two locations - Gippsland and The Grampians - and that the location is kept secret? This was just one of many facts that the Year 11 Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) class learned during their late afternoon/evening excursion that took place earlier this term.

The afternoon started at the Ecolinc Environmental Education Centre where students investigated Australian Wetland Ecosystems. As part of this, they walked through the wetland and then spent time identifying macroinvertebrates and understanding their place in wetland food webs. For many of the students, identifying macroinvertebrates was an eye-opening experience, realising what Dragonfly larvae and Water Boatman looked like.

From the Centre we moved to Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Interpretation Centre, a private sanctuary set up to protect many of our endangered and critically endangered grasslands animals. Here we enjoyed a BBQ dinner and as the sun set our guide explained the set-up of the sanctuary:

• 473 hectares surrounded by pest proof fences;
• a combination of Open Grassy Woodlands and Victorian Volcanic Plains Grasslands, the latter being a critically endangered ecosystem;
• re-vegetation projects to restore native grasses and plants;
• pest control programs to eradicate weeds and rabbits (foxes no longer exist within the sanctuary);
• education and voluntary programs;
• most importantly, protection of and monitored breeding programmes of many of our most vulnerable grassland animal species.

As darkness set in and within moments of beginning our walk through the sanctuary, we were lucky enough to spot an Eastern Quoll and an Eastern Barred Bandicoot. The night continued to delight us as we spotted Ring tailed and Brush tailed possums, Brush tailed Rock Wallabies, Dingoes and a rare glimpse of the very shy, critically endangered, Eastern Swamp Wallaby. With each animal that was encountered our guide provided information about the reason for the animal being in the sanctuary and the need to conserve these species. 

It was an amazing afternoon and evening and for all of us, the realisation that this is as close as we will get to seeing many of these animals in a wild setting. Unfortunately, many are being lost from the wild or are now extinct in the wild and only kept in captivity. A greater understanding was also gained of how vulnerable our wetlands are and the need to protect these in order to protect the food webs that we also rely on in our societies.

Felicity Robinson

Science teacher

felicity.robinson@preshil.vic.edu.au