This has allowed the reintroduction of fauna that is uncommon or locally extinct in the wheatbelt, and includes species that are considered threatened at the national level.
Wadderin is 427 hectares (1,060 acres) in area and consists of a series of large granite outcrops surrounded by woodland, shrubland and mallee.
In 2004 a licence agreement was established between the Water Corporation and the Shire of Narembeen (on behalf of a local community group) to manage for nature conservation and potential future eco-tourism.
[3] These sanctuaries exclude foxes and feral cats, which are seen as the key factors threatening the ongoing persistence of many Australian species of mammals and ground-nesting birds.
[citation needed] The mammal fauna of the reserve prior to the fencing of the Sanctuary and the reintroductions detailed below included only the echidna, western grey kangaroo, and euro and introduced species such as the fox, feral cat, rabbit, house mouse and black rat.
[15][16] The red-tailed phascogale now only occurs in the Western Australian wheatbelt[17] and has been subject to concerted conservation effort by farmers to improve its status.
[18] Regular monitoring of reintroduced woylies, quenda, and other species at Wadderin Sanctuary is conducted by scientists and community volunteers.
[2] Students from Narembeen District High School have been involved in projects to do with plant identification and revegetation within the Sanctuary and in adjoining bushland.
Davis (1977, cited in Laing and Hauck 1997[20]) reported that hundreds of small excavated tanks were constructed in the cereal/sheep area as agriculture developed, at least some adjacent to granite outcrops to take advantage of the regular run-off.