Extract from ABC News
Mark Norman takes in the view from the summit of Mount Oberon. (ABC Gippsland: William Howard)
In short:
Wilsons Promontory National Park juts out into the cool waters of the Bass Strait, meaning it is always cooler than mainland Australia.
Scientists believe this could save countless species of threatened plants and animals from climate-induced extinction.
What's next?
It comes as authorities build a fence along the national park's entrance to keep unwanted predators out.
On the southern-most tip of mainland Australia lies a nature reserve that could save countless threatened plants and animals from extinction.
It's called Wilsons Promontory National Park, or "Yiruk" and "Wamoon" by traditional owners.
Wilsons Promontory National Park is on the southern-most tip of Australia's mainland. (Supplied: Parks Victoria)
From the granite boulders of Mount Oberon to the pristine waters of Squeaky Beach, the beauty of Wilsons Promontory has long been enjoyed by residents, tourists and the 3,000 native plants and animals that call it home.
"The prom is a really special place for nature, as it has been for thousands of years," said Parks Victoria chief scientist Mark Norman.
Scientists have become increasingly fascinated by the park's ability to keep animals and plants safe from the effects of climate change — which they attribute to its size and location.
Wilsons Promontory is about 195 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. (ABC News)
Wilsons Promontory juts out into the cool waters of Bass Strait, meaning it is always up to 10 degrees cooler than the nearest town.
Meanwhile, at 50,000 hectares, there is no shortage of room for plants and animals.
Scientists are monitoring 153 threatened species across the national park.
Dr Norman said that number was predicted to rise.
Mark Norman says Wilsons Promontory is always cooler than the mainland. (ABC Gippsland: William Howard)
"We're ramping up our efforts here and building a thing called the prom sanctuary," he said.
"We're controlling pests and weeds, restoring habitats and bringing back animals from the brink of extinction."
Small as a mouse
One of the animals at the forefront of the chief scientist's mind is a small, broad-footed marsupial known as the antechinus.
Antechinus are a small, native, carnivorous marsupial. (Supplied: Parks Victoria)
With a carnivorous diet and four pairs of razor-sharp teeth, most people would probably be comforted by the fact that these little creatures pose no threat to humans.
Male antechinus die before their first birthday, devoting their final days to marathon mating sessions that can last up to 14 hours.
The males' sky-high testosterone eventually triggers a stress-induced immune system collapse, leaving entire populations without adult males for months.
"Their closest relatives are the Tasmanian tiger, Tasmanian devils and quoll cats," Dr Norman said.
Antechinus have been pushed to the brink of extinction in Victoria due to habitat destruction and introduced animals.
Their lifeline has been Wilsons Promontory.
Antechinus have four sets of razor sharp teeth but they are too small to harm humans. (Supplied: Parks Victoria)
"This little sharp tooth guy, who looks a bit like a mouse, is really endangered in Victoria and the prom is one of the few places it still exists," Dr Norman said.
Parks Victoria staff ventured across the rough seas of Bass Strait a few months ago to examine colonies living virtually untouched on two of the prom's remote islands.
"These offshore islands have been a place where the cats and foxes haven't reached and they're doing really well," Dr Norman said.
Across the sea
Parks Victoria planning officer for invasive species Emily Green was one of the seven crew members deployed to the east coast.
Emily Green says the trip out to the islands was a career highlight. (ABC Gippsland: William Howard)
"I've been working here nearly 20 years, and it was an absolute career highlight for me," Ms Green said.
"To be in a unique environment that not many people get to go to and just be surrounded by nature was amazing."
Infrared cameras and delicately positioned traps were used to identify 36 antechinus over four days.
Scientists from Parks Victoria spent four nights on islands off mainland Australia. (Supplied: Parks Victoria)
Small tissue samples were also taken from some marsupials to help scientists analyse the genetic health of the island populations.
Ms Green said the successful mission was almost jeopardised by a ferocious weather system.
"Probably the scariest bit was the 110kph winds," Ms Green said.
"We had tents pressing up against people's faces while they're trying to sleep, people trying to pin their tents down with their bodies and equipment, just trying to survive the night."
The west coast team narrowly made it off the island during a break in the weather, while the east coast team was forced to transfer onto smaller vessels.
Parks Victoria scientists make their way back to the mainland. (Supplied: Parks Victoria)
"That's all part of working at the prom — you get the good and then you also get the not so good," Ms Green said.
Pest-proof fence
Dr Norman said the story of the antechinus was a perfect example of why the prom sanctuary project was so important.
The centrepiece of the plan is the construction of a 10-kilometre-wide electrified fence that has been designed to keep unwanted pests out and endangered species safe.
The $6 million project is possible due to the narrow passageway connecting the park to the mainland.
"It's to stop foxes, feral cats and deer moving down from Gippsland into the prom," Dr Norman said.
Introduced species have plagued Australia's native flora and fauna, including the antechinus.
Pest animals typically have few natural predators or fatal diseases.
An adult emu accompanies two babies through scrub on Wilsons Promontory. (ABC Gippsland: William Howard)
This, coupled with high reproductive rates, means their population numbers have skyrocketed.
Parks Victoria said the removal of hog deer and rabbits would help reduce grazing pressure on the variety of native plants and plant communities at the prom.
It said getting rid of foxes and feral cats would reduce the threat of predators for native species which called the area home.
"We're really helping nature in these challenging times," Dr Norman said.
"We're saving plants and animals from extinction but also bringing back animals that have been lost to the area."
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