Go behind the scenes with Preston the Broad-Toothed Rat as Aussie Ark shares rare home videos from his extraordinary hand-raising journey.
PRESTON’S PRIVATE LIFE: Behind-the-scenes with media sensation ‘Pygmy Wombat’
Following the viral success of his first video, Preston the Broad-Toothed Rat is back, and Aussie Ark is giving the public a rare behind-the-scenes look at his extraordinary hand-raising journey.
New home videos reveal the world’s first hand-raised Broad-Toothed Rat growing from a vulnerable abandoned pup into a confident and cheeky youngster, affectionately nicknamed the ‘Pygmy Wombat’ by Aussie Ark supporters online.
Born as part of Aussie Ark’s Broad-Toothed Rat breeding and rewilding program at the Conservation Ark facility in Somersby, Preston was rejected by his mother at just two weeks old and would not have survived without intervention. He was taken into care by Aussie Ark Chief Conservation Officer Hayley Shute, who has spent months caring for him around the clock.
While Ms Shute is well known for hand-raising endangered native species, including Koalas, she says Preston has been unlike any animal she has cared for before.
“Preston is totally in love with me, and I am with him!” Ms Shute said.
“It’s amazing to be so bonded to such a tiny little native rodent and really get to know his species on such a personal level. He’s honestly one of the rarest and cutest animals I’ve ever cared for.”
The Broad-Toothed Rat is one of Australia’s lesser-known endangered native mammals, found only in fragmented alpine and sub-alpine habitats, including the Barrington Tops region. The species faces ongoing threats from habitat destruction and feral predation, making Aussie Ark’s insurance population and breeding program nationally significant.
To date, Aussie Ark’s world-first insurance population has resulted in 15 pups being born, an important milestone for the future of the species.
Preston’s journey has become especially significant because he is believed to be the first Broad-Toothed Rat ever hand-raised by humans. Since entering care in January, he has grown from just 27 grams to more than 100 grams and is now thriving.
Now around three months old, Preston is slowly weaning off milk and becoming increasingly playful and independent. Videos captured by Ms Shute show him feeding from a syringe, snacking on wildflowers and vegetables, exploring his surroundings and even falling asleep in her hands.
Because Preston has been hand-raised, he will not join Aussie Ark’s breeding insurance population. Instead, he now plays an important ambassador role, helping raise awareness for one of Australia’s rarest native mammals and the conservation work being done to protect it.
Members of the public can support Preston and Aussie Ark’s conservation efforts by symbolically adopting Preston the Broad-Toothed Rat via the Aussie Ark website.
