Last Update: Wednesday, October 11, 2006. 10:07am (AEST)
Feral cats take toll on woylie population

Feral cats and disease have emerged as the prime suspects responsible for the dramatic decline in the population of a rare Western Australian marsupial.

The Department of Environment and Conservation launched an investigation in July after it was revealed the woylie population in the south-west and Great Southern had plummeted by as much as 90 per cent.

Research scientist Adrian Wayne says it found higher levels of feral cat activity than anticipated.

Dr Wayne says they have also discovered two blood diseases that are present in affected populations, but not in a colony where numbers have remained stable.

"These sorts of problems are very complicated and it's very rare that there's ever one factor causing the decline, especially something as dramatic as this. It's quite likely a conspiracy of a number of factors working together against the woylies," he said.

Up to 60 woylies have been fitted with radio collars as part of the investigation into the population decline.

Of the 36 woylies collared in the past six weeks, three have been killed in attacks by predators.