NUMBATS in the Dryandra Woodland, Western Australia © Copyright. Credit: Rob McLean
What we can lose but provide hope
Australia has the worst rate of recent mammal extinctions in the world: more than 10 per cent of Australia’s 273 mammal species has gone extinct since European settlement, and more than 100 native mammal species are on the brink of disappearing forever – including the iconic Australian mammal – Numbat.
Predation by feral cats and foxes changed fire patterns and feral herbivores are the main threats driving the decline of Australia’s wildlife. Some of Australia’s most iconic mammals, such as the Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis), Bridled Nailtail Wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) and Mala (Rufous Hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus) are now either extinct in the wild or barely persist in just a fraction of their former range.
But there is hope: AWC (Australian Wildlife Conservancy) is successfully halting the decline of some of Australia’s most endangered mammals and restoring their populations.
AWC’s national reintroduction program is one of Australia’s few stand-out conservation success stories for these – and other – endangered native animals.
The Numbat has been reintroduced to three of AWC’s feral predator-free areas (with another two planned). AWC now protects approximately 500 Numbats – around half the global Numbat population. AWC’s new projects are expected to see these numbers double in coming years.
GENEROS is ready to help! Please, donate to bring The Numbat back to their areas! Help Us to Give Australian Wildlife Conservation.
