Isoodon obesulus

The Southern Brown Bandicoot is a nationally endangered species under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and as threatened under the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988. Their population has significantly declined since European settlement and their numbers continue to decline with urbanization. In the 1800s they were described as being “one of the commonest animals”, but most people would never have seen one in the wild.

Southern Brown Bandicoots are the same size as small rabbits with a long, pointed snout, small eyes, rounded ears, a compact body, large rump and sparsely furred short thin tail approximately half of its body length. https://www.bawbawshire.vic.gov.au/Latest-News/Baw-Baws-bandicoots-need-your-help

Bandicoots are ground dwelling, omnivore marsupials requiring low, dense vegetation cover and connecting corridors of vegetation. https://www.aussieark.org.au/southern-brown-bandicoot/ They feed on insects, spiders, worms, plant roots, ferns, and fungi.

In Baw Baw Shire, Longwarry has been one of the few towns where bandicoots can still be found. But increased urbanization, destruction of habitat, uncontrolled domestic animals, spraying of herbicides, lack of enforcement for breaches and lack of community awareness are resulting in the disappearance of these unique mammals.

Other places are doing all they can to protect these mammals. https://www.swifft.net.au/cb_pages/sp_southern_brown_bandicoot.php

Let’s hope that in Baw Baw Shire something will be done before it’s too late.