Lungtalanana/Clarke Island is a special place for the palawa/pakana people, the Tasmanian Aboriginal community. After decades of farming and poor land management, the island was handed back to the Aboriginal community in 2005. By that stage, many native mammal species had been extirpated, and feral cats had established on the island.
The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre and project partners, like Thylation, University of Tasmania, and WWF-Australia, are committed to the cultural and ecological restoration of the island. This includes cultural burning, eradication of feral cats, and the repatriation of culturally important and conservation significant species. Feral cat eradication will create one of the largest safe havens in southeastern Australia, where animals like long-nosed potoroo and New Holland mouse can be returned to Country. Feral cat eradication will protect species like Lewin’s rail, swift parrot, and hooded plover from predation by cats.
In 2023, four Felixer grooming traps were installed on the island. These traps are now active and their efficacy will be tested throughout 2024 and 2025.