Not seen in the wild locally since the 1950's, the Southern brush-tailed rock wallaby (info) is being brought back from extinction by a unique breeding program being undertaken by a collaboration between the Tidbinbilla nature reserve in the Australian Capital Territory and the Adelaide zoo in South Australia. By a process known as 'cross fostering' the breeding program allows for female wallabies to have up to six or seven Joeys in the one year. Bred at the Tidbinbilla breeding facility, fifteen animals have already been released into the Grampians (info) and more are planned to be released into area's once populated by the marsupial soon.
Video from TamsACT YouTube channel:
"David Dobroszczyk, Senior Wildlife Officer at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve discusses the Southern Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby program. The Southern Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby is a critically endangered species.
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Excellent! There should be more of this going on. I love to hear of this sort of programme being successful, but there are so many more native animals near extinction, areas where once species were prolific now have none and they have been driven into small areas elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteGood post, thank you.
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I blame feral animals mostly for the declines in small marsupials Keith. Wild dogs mostly but cats and foxes also play their part. Like I have said before 'better dispatched with a musket'.
ReplyDeleteTidbinbilla plays a major role in the survival of the Southern rock wallaby and the Corroboree frog and maintains a wonderful nature reserve which is only 15 minutes from Canberra's suburbs. Locals and visitors alike would enjoy a visit. Cheers