Family business on sheep island makes a radical turnaround

The Woolford family, owners of Flinders Island off South Australia for nearly 50 years, has completely abandoned sheep farming and is turning their property into a sanctuary for endangered species. With support from the Australian and South Australian governments ($4.8 million), invasive predators are being eradicated: 108 tons of poisoned bait dropped from helicopters, thermal drones used. If declared predator-free in 2027, rare mammals including the Shark Bay mouse and the banded hare-wallaby will be reintroduced. Nature is already recovering: penguins and orchids have returned.

The Woolford family, who have owned Flinders Island off the coast of South Australia for nearly 50 years, have completely abandoned sheep farming and are turning their property into a sanctuary for endangered species. The Australian and South Australian governments have allocated $4.8 million for the project. Sheep were removed from the island in 2025. A large-scale operation is now underway to eradicate invasive species: feral cats, rats, and mice. About 108 tons of poisoned bait have been dropped from helicopters, and thermal drones and specially trained dogs are used to find cats. If experts confirm in 2027 that the island is predator-free, several rare mammal species are planned to be reintroduced, including the Shark Bay mouse, the greater stick-nest rat, the southern brown bandicoot, and the banded hare-wallaby. Early signs of nature's recovery are already visible: little penguins have returned to the shores, orchids are blooming, and seedlings of the rare drooping she-oak tree are strengthening. The island remains the family's private property, and they are taking on the responsibilities of managing the sanctuary and strict biosecurity.