Editing Houtman Abrolhos (section)

===Mammals===
[[File:Abrolhos North-Island3.jpg|thumb|A [[tammar wallaby]] on North Island]]

Only two species of land mammal are indigenous to the Houtman Abrolhos, the [[tammar wallaby]] (''Macropus eugenii'') and the [[bush rat]] (''Rattus fuscipes''). Both are native only to West and East Wallabi Islands,<ref name="Abbott 1995">{{cite journal |author1=Abbott, I.  |author2=Burbidge, A. A. | year = 1995 | title = The occurrence of mammal species on the islands of Australia: A summary of existing knowledge | journal = CALMScience | volume = 1 | issue = 3 | pages = 259–324}}</ref> although ''R.&nbsp;fuscipes'' has not been collected on East Wallabi Island since August 1967, and is probably extinct there.<ref name="Cooper 2006">{{cite journal |author1=Cooper, N.K. |author2=How, R.A. |author3=Desmond, A. | year = 2006 | title = Probable local extinction of the Bush Rat, ''Rattus fuscipes'', on East Wallabi Island in the Houtman Abrolhos | journal = [[Western Australian Naturalist]] | volume = 25 | issue = 2 | pages = 61–71}}</ref> The tammar wallaby was seen on West Wallabi Island by survivors of the ''Batavia'' shipwreck, and recorded by [[Francisco Pelsart]] in his 1629 ''Ongeluckige Voyagie''. This represents the first recorded sighting of a [[Macropodidae|macropod]] by Europeans,<ref name="Pearson 2005">{{cite book|first=Michael |last=Pearson |year=2005 |title=Great Southern Land: The maritime exploration of Terra Australis |publisher=Department of the Environment and Heritage, Government of Australia |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/pubs/great-southern-land.pdf |access-date=2007-12-21 |isbn=978-0-642-55185-6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929132830/http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/publications/pubs/great-southern-land.pdf |archive-date=29 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and probably also the first sighting of an Australian mammal.<ref name="Storr 1965">{{cite journal | first = Glen | last = Storr | year = 1965 | title = The physiography, vegetation and vertebrate fauna of the Wallabi Group, Houtman Abrolhos | journal = Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia | volume = 48 | issue = 1 | pages = 1–14}}</ref> Tammar wallabies were introduced to North Island from East Wallabi Island by fishermen, probably in the 1950s, but failed to establish themselves. In 1987 they were reintroduced again, this time successfully. By the 2000s, there were over 400 wallabies on the island, resulting in [[overgrazing]] of native vegetation and increased [[erosion]]. Research into the effectiveness of controlling population levels by the use of implanted contraceptives was begun in 2005,<ref name="ABC">{{cite web | title = "Pill" plan for growing wallaby population | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2005-06-16/pill-plan-for-growing-wallaby-population/1593926 | publisher = ABC News Online |date = 15 June 2005 | access-date = 6 September 2015}}</ref> but in July 2007 the research was discontinued and the population culled instead.<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-24/plan-to-cull-wallabies-on-abrohlos-island/4442908 | title = Wallabies may be culled on Abrolhos island | publisher = ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Company) | access-date = 26 November 2017 | date = 24 December 2012 | first = Sarah | last = Taillier}}</ref>

Two introduced mammals are established on the islands. The [[domestic cat]] (''Felis silvestris catus'') was introduced to Rat Island around 1900, and the [[house mouse]] (''Mus musculus'') was introduced onto North Island in the 1970s, presumably with food. In 1995 the house mouse was reported as also present on Rat Island for many years before 1987,<ref name="Abbott 1995"/> but a recent report makes no mention of this.<ref name="Burbidge 2004">{{cite book|author=Burbidge, A. A. |year=2004 |title=Introduced mammals on Western Australian islands: Improving Australia's ability to protect its island habitats from feral animals |edition= Final report for the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage |publisher=Department of Conservation and Land Management, Government of Western Australia |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/wa-islands/index.html |access-date=2007-12-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021093319/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/publications/wa-islands/index.html |archive-date=21 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, three introduced mammals were previously established in the Houtman Abrolhos, but have since been eradicated. The [[black rat]] (''Rattus rattus'') was established on Pigeon and Rat Islands, but has been eradicated by poisoning. The [[European rabbit]] (''Oryctolagus cuniculus'') has been introduced at various times onto Leo Island, Middle Island, Morley Island, Pelsaert Island and Wooded Island. In the case of Pelsaert Island, it is not clear whether it ever established; in all other cases, established populations have been eradicated by poisoning.<ref name="Abbott 1995"/><ref name="Burbidge 2004"/> The [[domestic goat]] (''Capra aegagrus hircus'') is also reported to have been present on East Wallabi Island, but is no longer.<ref name="Storr 1986"/>