DEC’s Bush Ranger Units have conducted reward camp experiences in Perup and Shark Bay, providing cadets with the unique opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge while working in the field alongside DEC staff.

Senior Technical Officer’s Bruce Ward and Graeme Liddelow accompanied six cadets and three instructors from Rossmoyne Senior High School in the monitoring of fauna throughout Perup Forest Ecology Centre.

Bush Ranger cadet Anita Kumar said that the camp was invaluable for students wishing to gain some serious hands-on nature conservation experience.
“During our stay in Perup our main focus was the trapping and recording of animals and their characteristics within the area,” she said.

“To achieve this we created our own batch of bait to be placed in a number of harmless animal traps.

“Early each morning we checked our traps for animals and recorded their tag number, weight, age, sex, size and type.  If the animal wasn’t wearing an identification tag we put one on. 

“Perhaps the most exhilarating part of the recording apart from the animal handling was releasing and watching the animal re-adjust to its environment before it bounded away.”    

Bush Rangers WA Program Coordinator Hannah Hampson and Ranger’s Roger Whitelaw and Chris McMonagle joined 11 students and three Mount Lawley Senior High School staff at the rewards camp held at Shark Bay.

The cadets were guided through and assisted with a host of activities including the maintenance of endangered species’ breeding pens, beach camp fire removal as well as assisting with holiday programs at Monkey Mia.

Hannah said that she was very impressed with the cadet’s work ethic, especially considering that some students were only in Year 9.

“The cadets put in full days showing excellent team work and competitive team spirit.  The highlight each evening was swapping stories while the photos from the day were projected onto the wall of the Peron Homestead,” she said.

“The variety of experiences available to the cadets during the rewards camps helps them to understand the different roles DEC staff undertake, the skills learned help to foster a conservation ethic and provide the cadets with practical management skills as well as the opportunity to develop their leadership potential.”

A fire awareness camp will round out the cadet reward experience program later in the year.

If you have any questions about the reward program, or would like more information on how to engage Bush Ranger cadets in your conservation project, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it on 9334 0137

Photo: Group 2 finished removing wire

Photo: Group 1 cleaning endangered species breeding pens