Formerly widespread throughout the ranges of South Australia, Northern Territory and Western Australia, the black-footed rock wallaby, known as warru by the people of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands, was once one of the most common mammals in the region. By 1961, there had been a significant decline in numbers, possibly due to altered fire and hunting regimes, and the arrival of the European fox Vulpes vulpes and feral cat Felis catus.

Today, there are three known populations of warru in the APY lands (a fourth became extinct in 2006), with an estimated combined population of 70 individuals. While fox-baiting has been undertaken since 1996, a recovery team for this species was not formed until 2006. Zoos SA’s experience in the captive husbandry of rock wallaby species (see Victorian brush-tailed rock wallaby), and their proven success using the cross-fostering technique for increased reproductive output in macropods meant that the organisation was to be involved from the start. We have partnered with the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Management (APYLM) and the South Australian Department of Environment and Heritage (DEH) to best prevent the extinction of the warru in this region.

The first six warru joeys were collected from the APY lands in May, and transferred to surrogate yellow-footed rock wallaby Petrogale xanthopus xanthopus dams at Monarto and Adelaide Zoos, with a further nine transferred to Monarto Zoo for surrogacy in August. While the yellow-footed rock wallabies do most of the rearing, the black-footed rock wallabies are ‘finished off’ by animal keeping staff to ensure better captive management practises. These young will form the founding stock for the captive warru population at Monarto Zoo, which will go on to produce animals for eventual reintroduction.

A Zoos SA sponsored University of Adelaide student is concurrently investigating the in situ populations of warru through radio-tracking, trapping, dietary analysis, habitat assessments, genetics, and valuable discussions with the Anangu elders. Staff from Zoos SA assist with these in situ efforts.