Wildlife habitats restored with world first invention
Cutting edge technology has been used to rebuild more than 800 new natural habitats for displaced native animals after the 2019-20 NSW bushfires.
The NSW Government invested $165,000 to carve new tree hollows using ‘Hollowhog,’ an Australian invention that has minimal impact on the health and integrity of the tree.
Transport for NSW environment officer and conservation biologist Matt Stephens invented the Hollowhog, after 10 years of problem solving how to create durable homes for wildlife.
Regional Transport and Roads Minister Paul Toole said the use of this technology in NSW is a world first.
“Creating hollows in mature trees is important as 15 per cent of Australian fauna rely on them for nesting and habitation – that’s more than a quarter of reptiles like goannas, geckos and pythons, 17 per cent of birds, and about 30 per cent of mammals,” Mr Toole said.
The Black Summer bushfires destroyed 5.5 million hectares of tree hollows that possums, gliders, microbats, and birds use for breeding, shelter and protection. Hollowhog has so far replaced destroyed habitats in 20 locations around regional NSW.