Faunal Emblems Program

• DEECA, Parks Victoria and Zoos Victoria are completing surveys across Yellingbo and Victoria’s Central Highlands to get a better understanding of Lowland and Highland Leadbeater's possum populations, including locating potential translocation sites.
• DEECA's Port Phillip Region, with Zoos Victoria and the Friends of the Helmeted Honeyeater, will  complete surveys to identify and analyse possible good quality habitat for the translocation of captive bred and wild Helmeted Honeyeaters to create new populations.
• Zoos Victoria is supporting ongoing analysis of Helmeted Honeyeater and lowland Leadbeater's Possum genetics by world-leading conservation geneticists at Monash University to steer genetic rescue programs for both species
• Parks Victoria will continue the long term Leadbeater's Possum nest box program. Funding will be used to build and install 40 nest boxes for the Leadbeater's Possum at priority sites including 2 new sites in the Central Highlands.
• Continuing support of monitoring and supplementary feeding of Helmeted Honeyeaters in Yellingbo Nature Conservation Reserve and at translocation sites.

• The Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (PPWCMA) are working to identify potential new areas of habitat and prepare land management plans to restore these to support populations.
• The PPWCMA are working with the Wurundjeri-Woi-wurring Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation to continue habitat restoration planning for a  future release site for Leadbeater’s Possums and Helmeted Honeyeaters on a 45-hectare property in the Coranderrk Habitat Restoration Area near Healesville .
• DEECA, Parks Victoria and Zoos Victoria are working to restore areas where habitat condition is declining by protecting critical habitat from the effects of over browsing in the last remaining high-quality habitat for lowland Leadbeater’s Possums.
• We are working to reduce the number of feral cats and foxes within our parks and reserves to protect both species from predation.
• Through conservation covenants, Trust for Nature is working with private landholders to permanently protect suitable habitat on their properties.

• Scientists from the Arthur Rylah Institute are investigating patterns of re-colonisation of Leadbeater’s Possum after bushfires to inform future conservation management.
• Zoos Victoria will use existing habitat assessment methods at recently detected Leadbeater’s Possum sites to assess vegetation structure. This data will help set habitat restoration targets for sites in the Yarra Valley for both species.
• Zoos Victoria is generating an improved database to track the survival and reproductive contributions of Helmeted Honeyeaters.

Parks Victoria has developed two digital e-books on Victoria’s faunal emblems to connect young people to conservation issues and instil a love of and connection to their habitat. These e-books link directly to the development of reading skills in the Victorian curriculum. See: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/get-into-nature/learning-in-nature/plan-your-learning/conservation-storytelling

We are supporting several community groups with their involvement with recovery efforts. This has included help with:

• camera monitoring
• collecting valuable seeds used to grow stock for revegetating habitat
• engaging local landholders to protect or restore habitat on their properties
• monitoring possums by providing possum nest boxes for groups to erect and monitor.

Through Trust for Nature, we have supported Indigenous Victorians to complete a Certificate III in Conservation and Land Management to build capacity for Traditional Owners to work on Country.