Tronox sponsors wildlife rehabilitation
Overview
Tronox’s 20-year sponsorship of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Parks and Wildlife Service helps to save WA’s wildlife.
Results
Funding has helped reduce predators such as foxes and helped to protect the Wedge-Tail Eagle.
For more than twenty years, Tronox has been sponsoring the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions – Parks and Wildlife Service.
This sponsorship has included the Western Shield Fox and Feral Cat Baiting in the Nambung National Park, with studies showing a decrease in the number of foxes as a direct result of the program. On top of this, Tronox sponsors an additional five projects per year.
In 2017, one of these projects included the electronic tagging and tracking of a juvenile Wedge-Tail Eagle. Simon Cherriman – who has been studying Wedge-Tail Eagles and has completed a PhD on the species – led this exciting work. Simon identified a young, female, juvenile Eagle as the perfect candidate for the project, as she was close to fledgling age.
In November 2017, the tracking device was fitted so she could begin her journey. The bird bit Simon on multiple occasions during the fitting, which led to her beautiful name – Baakininy, which is Noongar for biting.
Regular updates on the bird are received, which show her progress and location. Once she took flight, Baakininy remained around Gidgegannup for around a month, before heading north. She flew as far as Kununurra, remaining there for several months before returning south.
Baakininy is expected to continue to fly over large areas for appropriately two years before possibly heading back to Gidgegannup to nest. Tronox staff have loved following Baakininy’s progress and always look forward to updates.
Tronox has committed to continuing its sponsorship of the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions – Parks and Wildlife Service, as the environment is one of Tronox’s key operational values.