Woylie Project

The Woylie project will be undertaken in the purpose built facility at Native Animal Rescue for the safe housing of small native mammals . It is expected that ethics approval for the project will be completed by the end of August and that suitable Woylies will be indentified starting late October, with animals being on location for the project to commence in Novermber.

Woylies (Bettongia penicillata) are small native marsupials that were widespread across southern Australia before European settlement. Their numbers were drastically reduced by habitat clearing and the introduction of predators such as foxes, and by the 1960’s they were in grave danger of extinction. A captive breeding program and widespread fox control led to significant recoveries in Woylie populations and by 1998 they were removed from the endangered species list. Unfortunately, since 2000, Woylie numbers have again declined alarmingly, despite ongoing fox control.

It is not known what has caused this latest decline in Woylie numbers, but a number of studies have suggested that parasitic diseases such as trypanosomes and toxoplasma may be to blame. Of particular concern is a blood-borne trypanosome parasite, which has been found at elevated levels in those Woylie populations which are declining in numbers. It is imperative that we better understand the methods of transmissioin of these parasites in the Woylie populations to help determine whether they pose a real threat to Woylies, so that appropriate action can be taken to save the species before it is too late.

Native Animal Rescue costs to support project estimated at $100 per week. If you would like to specifically support this project, contact us at NAR to discuss it.