A population of South Australia’s last surviving bandicoot species is showing signs of recovery just 6 kilometers from Adelaide, with aspirations to connect this group with other existing populations.<\/p>\n
The endangered southern brown bandicoot was first identified in Brownhill Creek Recreation Park approximately six years ago, which prompted Conservation Volunteers Australia to set up camera traps to monitor their numbers. This effort led to the establishment of a grazing enclosure managed by the Friends of Brownhill Creek, where invasive blackberry bushes and weeds were removed, allowing native vegetation to flourish free from the grazing pressure of kangaroos and feral deer.<\/p>\n
Surveys conducted by Adelaide University in the Brownhill Creek area utilizing camera traps and microchipping have revealed a breeding colony consisting of around six bandicoots. Jasmin Packer, a senior research fellow at the School of Biological Sciences, remarked, “While the area is small and the population limited, it appears to be stable. Over time, the native vegetation is becoming more robust and dense, providing a significant refuge for the bandicoots. They utilize this area as a safe haven.” <\/p>\n
The sheltering structures, referred to as “bandicoot bungalows,” are built from repurposed materials such as old pallets and sticks, offering protection from predators like foxes and cats. The bandicoots have also taken advantage of the dense blackberry coverage, which has proliferated in parts of the Adelaide Hills, replacing their natural habitat of native raspberry and bracken. Dr. Packer explained, “We are carefully managing the blackberry, gradually removing it as the native plants regenerate. Bit by bit, we will restore more native habitat for the bandicoots, but for now, the blackberry serves as essential cover for this endangered species.”<\/p>\n
The collaborative efforts involve volunteers from various organizations, including the Friends of Brownhill Creek, the Brownhill Creek Association, National Parks and Wildlife staff, and conservationists, all led by Dr. Packer and Dr. Rossi von der Borch, founder of The Bee Hub, under the initiative known as Bandi Bush Care or the Bandi Bunch.<\/p>\n
Historically, South Australia was home to eight different bandicoot species prior to European colonization, but the southern brown bandicoot is now the only one remaining. Although classified as endangered, a new colony was discovered at Kuitpo Forest in 2018, marking the first sighting in 35 years.<\/p>\n
Concerns have arisen regarding the population at Upper Sturt, the nearest colony to Brownhill Creek, where there are fears of poisoning from pindone-laced carrots intended for feral rabbits. Tim Robson, from Bandicoot Springs, noted a decline in sightings earlier this year but reported that the bandicoots have since produced offspring. Dr. Packer’s recent survey in the area confirmed a healthy bandicoot presence, with Robson stating, “You can confidently say they’re back.”<\/p>\n
The decline of bandicoots in South Australia has primarily been attributed to habitat destruction and degradation, as well as the fragmentation of their habitats due to urban development. In response, the Bandicoot Superhighway Project has been initiated to enhance connectivity between remaining habitats in the Mt Lofty Ranges, increase habitat size, and raise awareness about this marsupial, which is sometimes mistaken for an introduced rat. The project also seeks to control invasive weeds, protect remaining vegetation from grazing, and explore the establishment of new subpopulations.<\/p>\n
Ron Bellchambers, a community engagement and project officer for the Brownhill Creek Association, highlighted that the existence of the endangered southern brown bandicoots, along with endangered grey box grassy woodland habitat, has elevated the park’s profile. “This has significantly enhanced the park’s importance and given us a renewed purpose in safeguarding endangered species,” he stated. “Even though our southern brown bandicoot population is small, it plays a crucial role; in the event of a catastrophic bushfire in the Adelaide Hills, our colony could be one of the few to survive due to its location. We are eager to connect our breeding colony with the Adelaide Hills population.”<\/p>\n
As part of the Bandicoot Superhighway initiative, Bellchambers indicated that the next phase involves creating a habitat corridor to link these populations. “There is currently an open area that the bandicoots cannot cross, and we aim to fill this gap with native vegetation to facilitate their movement into the Upper Sturt section of Brownhill Creek,” he explained. “We have already begun discussions with private landowners to enhance habitats on their properties to establish that connection, which is the next step in our efforts.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A population of South Australia’s last surviving bandicoot species is showing signs of recovery just 6 kilometers from Adelaide, with aspirations to connect this group with other existing populations. The endangered southern brown bandicoot was first identified in Brownhill Creek Recreation Park approximately six years ago, which prompted Conservation Volunteers Australia to set up camera […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10618,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1225,43,396],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-au-animals","category-australia","category-au-endangered-and-protected-species"],"yoast_head":"\n