UQ work to protect campus wildlife

The University of Queensland is working to protect wildlife on its 114 hectare St Lucia campus with a campaign to remove pest animals.

Senior Supervisor Grounds Shane Biddle said the campus was a haven for wildlife that delighted students and staff, photographers, picnickers, and visitors from around the globe.

“The St Lucia campus is home to around 64 noted bird species, turtles, possums, lizards, eels and more,” Mr Biddle said.

“Maintaining the animal and bird-life is something that we like to leave to nature to balance, but sometimes we need to step in and remove pest animals that see the wildlife as easy pickings.”

Mr Biddle said foxes had been sighted on campus, and the University was working with the Brisbane City Council to remove them.

He said Brisbane landholders were legally obligated under the Biosecurity Act to remove pest animals. The council will use humane traps to capture foxes, which will be removed.

“It’s important that people don’t approach any traps if they come across them,” he said.

The St Lucia campus boasts more than 17,400 trees and 108 bird boxes, along with habitat boxes for nocturnal marsupials.

“The campus is a great public asset and people visit from around the globe and enjoy the experience of getting into nature – right in the middle of the city,” Mr Biddle said.

More information about the Biosecurity Act is available on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website.

More information: UQ Communications, communications@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 1120.