CHIDLOW’S Karakamia Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) recently marked 35 years of conservation work in the hills and invited Echo News to see the work being done in the area.

The anniversary recently coincided with the rediscovery of the Western pygmy possum at the sanctuary, which hadn’t been seen since it was first captured at KWS in 1999.

Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s (AWC) story began at Karakamia in 1991, when founder Martin Copley purchased the Perth Hills property for conservation.

An AWC spokesperson said the organisation was continuing to look for ways to strengthen its conservation work by building connections with the community.

“AWC is always looking for opportunities to… create meaningful opportunities for people to engage with our sanctuaries,” they said.

“We’re excited about the future and encourage people to stay tuned for updates as our work continues to grow and evolve.”

Kalamunda MLA Adam Hort joined in on the visit to KWS this week to see the sanctuary and its conservation work firsthand.

Mr Hort said KWS was something residents should be incredibly proud to have in the Perth Hills.

“Walking through the sanctuary and seeing our native wildlife in such a protected environment really brings home just how special this place is,” he said.

As night descended, woylies, wallabies and a brush-tailed phascogale appeared along the trail while the landscape shifted between granite outcrops, riparian habitat and wandoo woodland.

Diggings throughout the sanctuary showed the role played by native animals searching for insects, roots and underground fungi.

AWC field ecologist guide Owen Cumming said digging animals helped turn organic matter into the soil, cycle nutrients and improve water penetration.

Small depressions could also collect leaf litter and moisture and provide favourable conditions for germination.

“The foundation of that is the healthy landscapes and the habitat that is suitable for them to begin with,” he said.

“We do need to be looking after these places that provide that ecosystem health and services from the ground up.

“Otherwise, conservation of wildlife isn’t possible.”

The sanctuary’s future also sits alongside an unresolved planning issue on neighbouring land.

As reported in Mundaring votes to recommend SP 82 refusal Australian Wildlife Conservancy raised concerns about structure plan 82 when it returned to the Shire of Mundaring last year.

AWC administration and operations support officer Mimi Scully asked the shire whether building envelopes and associated access roads at the northern end of the proposed development could be removed because that section abutted Karakamia.

The shire then voted to recommend the WA Planning Commission refuse SP82, with a decision still pending.