Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00385:body:0:p3
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2007B00385
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 7068–10862

terrace rainforests will benefit other endemic rainforest-dependent species.

Estimated Cost

Stage 1 – Prior to location of extant populations

Recovery Action                                                                Year of Implementation
                                                                               1                       2       3       4       5       Total
Action 1: Investigate the taxonomic                                            10,000                  -       -       -       -       10,000
Action 2: Investigate current status and distribution#                         58,000                  58,000  58,000  58,000  58,000  290,000
Action 3: Development of wildlife management program outside CI National Park  *                       *       *       *       *       -
Action 4:  Control abundance and spread of the crazy ant                       *                       *       *       *       *       -
Action 5: Implement community awareness program                                4,000                   *       *       *       *       4,000
TOTAL COST                                                                     72,000                  58,000  58,000  58,000  58,000  304,000

# = The cost of Action 2 is dependent on the number of years taken to locate extant populations and fully determine its distribution; * = Costs covered by Parks Australia North core duties.

Stage 2 - Alternative costs if extant populations found in Year 1

Recovery Action                                         Year of Implementation
                                                        1                       2       3       4       5       Total
Action 2: Investigate current status and distribution#  58,000                  -       -       -       -       58,000
Action 6:  Establish captive population¥                50,000                  30,000  30,000  30,000  30,000  170,000
Action 7:  Manage located populations                   10,000                  10,000  10,000  10,000  10,000  50,000
Action 8: Identify and describe habitat critical        29,000                  29,000  -       -       -       58,000
Action 9: Identify threatening processes                15,000                  15,000  -       -       -       30,000
TOTAL COST                                              162,000                 84,000  40,000  40,000  40,000  366,000

# = Depending on the year of location of extant populations; ¥ = This cost is assuming no reintroduction of captive shrews into the wild.

INtroduction

The Christmas Island Shrew Crocidura attenuata trichura is the only member of the shrew family (Soricidae) recorded in Australia. The genus of white-toothed shrews Crocidura, with 158 recognised species, is the most speciose of all mammalian genera (Wolsan & Hutterer 1998, Nowak 1999). The taxonomy and distribution of many members of the genera is confusing and inconclusive (Nowak 1999, Jiang & Hoffmann 2001). All members of the genus are small, with a head and body length of 40–180mm and tail length of 40–110mm and a distinctly pointed muzzle.

The Christmas Island Shrew varies from light or reddish-brown to dark slate grey in colouration, with a weight range between 4.5 and 6.0g (Meek 2000; J. Tranter, Dept Environment and Heritage, pers. comm.). It is similar in appearance and occupies a corresponding niche to small Australian carnivorous marsupials (Dasyuridae), such as planigales Planigale sp. and dunnarts Sminthopsis sp. (Eisenberg 1981).

This little animal was once extremely common all over the island and its distinctive shrill squeaks could be heard all around as one stood quietly in the rainforest (Lister 1888, Andrews 1900). By 1908 it was considered to be probably extinct with no specimen either