Saving Kangaroo Island’s Dunnarts

Game changing technology for Kangaroo Island wildlife

Kangaroo Island is inhabited by feral cats at densities ten times higher than on mainland Australia. The impact of feral cats predating on wildlife is magnified in post-fire landscapes, creating an urgent need to implement effective control programs for introduced predators. Live capture trapping is an important component of the program, though while successful, is resource intensive and costly to undertake at scale.

To counter the threat the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board (KILB) launched its deployment of Celium in 2022. Funded by Landcare South Australia, this project used Encounter Solutions’ Celium technology on a large scale for the first time in Australia, as a key part of its feral cat control strategy.

The KILB ran two initial Celium network trials in winter 2022. These involved 180 monitored live capture traps spanning 179 km². In the first trial, 1,324 trap nights were recorded and the trap alert correctly reported 100% of triggered traps and 47 cats were captured. In the second trial, from 2,287 trap nights, 354 triggers were reported, with 33 feral cats captured. There was a 200% reduction in the number of staff and a 70% reduction in the time taken to check traps per day. Vehicle use reduced from three to one and daily distance travelled declined by 43%.

Following the initial successful trials, the network was expanded to cover 776 km², connecting 300 traps. In 15 weeks, the network captured 200 feral cats.

Cost-benefit analysis indicates a 36% decrease in the cost of delivering the program. Furthermore, improved animal welfare outcomes were achieved as a result of triggered traps being checked sooner.