Brush-tailed Rock-Wallaby

About This Species

The Southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) is a small, omnivorous marsupial often mistaken for a rodent. Roughly rabbit-sized, they possess a pointy snout, humped back, thin tail, and large hind feet. While once widespread across coastal regions of Northern NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory, and Western Australia, their populations have significantly declined since European settlement. They play a crucial role as ecological engineers, aerating soil and leaf litter, aiding in decomposition, seedling penetration, and nutrient availability for plants. They also help disperse beneficial fungi that enhance plant nutrient absorption.

Threats They Face

Like many Australian marsupials, Southern brown bandicoots have faced population declines due to several key threats:

  • Habitat Loss and Fragmentation: Clearing land for agriculture and urban development has significantly reduced and fragmented their habitat.
  • Introduced Predators: Feral predators such as foxes, dogs, and cats have had a devastating impact on bandicoot populations.
  • Inappropriate Fire Regimes: Burning practices that negatively affect understory species and vegetation structure threaten their habitat.
  • Other Threats: Death or injury from fires and motor vehicles also contribute to their decline. Of the estimated 12 bandicoot species originally present in Australia, approximately half are now extinct, threatened, or extremely rare.

How Aussie Ark Is Helping

Aussie Ark is committed to providing a long-term future for threatened Australian wildlife, including the Southern brown bandicoot. Our efforts include:

  • Establishing an Insurance Population: Aussie Ark has established a growing insurance population of Southern brown bandicoots at their facility, aiming to reach 150 individuals. This safeguards the species against further declines in the wild.
  • Reintroduction into Safe Wild Sanctuaries: Aussie Ark plans to release bandicoots into safe wild sanctuaries to ensure their future is protected for generations to come.
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