Outback lake home to hundreds of animals set to run dry in 130-year first

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A much-loved nature park in the far west of New South Wales is in danger of losing rare native wildlife if it dries out for the first time in more 130 years. Conservationists say hopping mice, turtles and frogs are among the animals at risk of perishing.

Transcript

00:00A disappearing oasis in a dry landscape.

00:07The Imperial Lakes Nature Park has transformed this bushland into a sustainability hub for

00:14native flora and fauna.

00:16This is a special and unique place for the Broken Hill community and people in all of

00:21far west New South Wales, but it's also a jewel in the outback of Australia.

00:27But the jewel is under threat.

00:30The local land care group says without an injection of water, this lake will dry up

00:35within days.

00:37The eastern lake is going dry now for the first time we understand it's 130 plus years.

00:46It is rapidly disappearing before our eyes.

00:48It is having devastating impact on the wildlife here.

00:52The local water provider has donated excess water in the past to top up the Imperial Lakes,

00:59but that source has dried up.

01:01We'd be looking to get some commitment and support and some help from other organisations.

01:08There's also an appeal to raise money to buy enough water to ensure the viability of this

01:15nature park.

01:16Assured access to 100 mega litres of water is what we require.

01:21There's no shortage of frogs, there's no shortage of snakes, there's no shortage of little hopping

01:26mice that are quite rare.

01:29Everything everywhere, all reliant on the water.

01:33A desperate appeal to nature lovers to keep this bush oasis alive.

01:38Stay alive!

01:39Stay alive!

01:42LELIUS

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