Safe havens protect Australian mammals from invasive predators. Why aren’t they working for other animal groups?

Feral cats and foxes have spread across nearly the entire Australian landscape, posing a significant threat to numerous species, many of which have faced extinction. In response to this crisis, authorities have established safe havens – either islands or large fenced areas on land – to provide protection for endangered native mammals like bilbies.

These havens have proven successful in saving several species from the brink of extinction. However, new research reveals that these safe havens are not as effective in safeguarding the diverse range of other animal groups, including frogs, reptiles, birds, and invertebrates, which are also threatened by invasive predators and other invasive species.

The researchers identified a few isolated instances where safe havens do provide protection for non-mammal species, such as the great desert skink and western swamp tortoise. However, most threatened species do not currently reside within existing safe havens. To effectively protect these vulnerable species, new safe havens must be established, with specific designs accounting for their unique threats and habitat requirements.

This calls for a more comprehensive approach to creating safe havens, taking into consideration future climate projections and the potential need for additional measures like finer-scale fencing or mini havens for species in challenging terrains. While safe havens are crucial in buying time for scientists to develop long-term solutions, they are not a permanent fix, as protected species may lose their wariness if released outside the fence, putting them at risk once again.