In view of the results of Mike Stevens research into the survival of small mammals in the fire affected part of the Park, it is good to hear that Project Platypus (a federation of several local Landcare groups) has received a grant under the Threatened Species programme to work to preserve Southern Brown Bandicoot habitat in the Black Ranges near Stawell, on private and public land. A survey by the Field Naturalist Mammal Survey Group in 2002 managed to trap three bandicoots.
This project will undertake further surveys, initiate long term feral animal control plan, and work to link, protect and revegetate habitats.