Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata

The endangered Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby was once common in all of Eastern Australia. Predation by Foxes, competition from feral goats and habitat loss have pushed this species to the edge of extinction, with populations disappearing rapidly from the south northwards.

Today the species is near extinct in Victoria, declining in New South Wales and the Queensland populations are also showing signs of increasing pressure.

The ongoing rapid extinction of colonies of Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby in the most recent times is of particular concern. In 1988, at Jenolan Caves for example, a caged population of 80 rock-wallabies was released to boost what was thought to be an abundant local wild population. By 1992 the total population was down to about seven. The survivors were caught and enclosed in a fox and cat-proof enclosure, and the numbers have since begun to increase.

Today scientists consider foxes the major reason for the recent extinctions, along with competing herbivores, especially goats, sheep and rabbits, diseases such as toxoplasmosis and hydatidosis, habitat fragmentation and destruction and a lower genetic health due to the increasing isolation of colonies.

Many of the factors listed above have unknown consequences on the survival of the in NSW but it is notable that the most important stronghold remains in the Macleay Gorges in Northern NSW Armidale, an area of almost “untouched” prime habitat.

The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife has funded conservation projects for the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby for the past three decades. Some of the projects are listed below and are summarised in 'Saving the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby'.

Habitat acquisition

In 2008 the Foundation for National Parks is running an appeal to purchase land for the Australian Wildlife Corridor. Our focus is on the property Kalungra, a haven for the Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies in the New Engalnd region near Tamworth, NSW.

In 2003 and 2004 the Foundation ran a major fundraising appeal to buy Green Gully, a wilderness property within the Macleay Gorges the last great stronghold of the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby in NSW.

At the property Green Gully, fox culling programs have kept predator numbers low, and it is in this area where rock-wallabies have even chosen scrubs and hollow logs for shelter. It is the wallabies’ use of the terrain that proves Green Gully’s prime habitat qualities.

Fox control and genetic monitoring

The Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies of the Warrumbungle National Park currently exist within the western-most confine of the species’ range. The unique dilemma of Warrumbungle variety’s isolation amongst the other two genetically different groups of Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies makes its population concern a major implication not only for its existing biodiversity, but also for the genus P. penicillata in general.

The crucial factor of wallaby decline in the Warrumbungle National Park is again the predation by foxes. To address this threat the Foundation funded research into fox monitoring and the success of fox control measures. Additional funds enabled a genetic survey to determine the genetic health of the populations.

Feral animal control was also provided for the population in Kangaroo Valley near Fitzroy Falls.

In the past the Foundation has funded Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby surveys in the Ettrema Wilderness, Wollemi and Morton National Park.

Captive Breeding

A captive breeding program aims to increase the numbers and to preserve genetic variety of the wild populations. The Foundation contributed funds to a national recovery effort that will see the capture of animals in the wild and the establishment of captive breeding populations in South Australia, Victoria and NSW.

Brush-tail school education program

A primary school education program starring ‘Rusty’ the Rock-wallaby teaches children about the need for conservation and the importance of saving our endangered wildlife through hands-on projects.

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