the ground. They can turn over up to 13kg Island Ark of soil each night! This behaviour makes them Fox-free islands, such as Phillip Island, excellent ‘ecosystem engineers’ which means provide the best long-term opportunity to they play an important role in maintaining the save this special species from extinction soil structure of their habitats, helping to create by allowing populations to thrive in the healthy and functioning ecosystems. wild. Using islands as threatened species reintroduction sites helps to mitigate the Habitat issues of predation by introduced predators, A mixture of grasslands and woodlands such as foxes, by providing a safe, fox-free provides the highly complex habitat preferred area that is protected by a large water barrier. by Eastern Barred Bandicoots. For nesting, the bandicoots use their clawed forepaws to Securing a brighter future scrape out a depression which they line with In August 2015, 20 male and female grass. These nests are tucked away under bandicoots were released onto Churchill tussocks of grass to protect the bandicoots Island (off Phillip Island) which is fox, cat during the day while they sleep. and rabbit free. In less than two years, the population reached around 120 individuals Eastern Diet and has now stabilised. In 2017, 67 male Eastern Barred Bandicoots are omnivorous and female bandicoots were translocated though primarily insectivorous. At night, they to the Summerland Peninsula on Phillip Barred use their strong claws and pointed nose to Island where they share their home with dig for insects and worms, leaving many small Little Penguins, Cape Barren Geese, Swamp Bandicoot cone-shaped holes in the soil. They also may Wallabies and other native wildlife, but eat onion-grass bulbs and fallen fruits. also feral cats. Despite the presence of (Perameles gunnii) cats however, regular monitoring by Phillip Breeding Island Nature Parks scientists and volunteers These marsupials have a very rapid breeding has found this bandicoot population is cycle. Gestation is 12.5 days, with one to healthy and going strong. These significant three young in each litter. Females can conservation efforts in partnership with produce up to five litters a year! The young several key organisations aim to recover the stay in their mother’s pouch for 55 days species and prevent extinction by establishing Species Profile before they wean. About 35 days later they a Victorian population of 2500 individuals. Fun facts! Animalia - Mammalia disperse to start lives of their own. Bandicoot guardians contribute to securing a WEIGHT: 600 - 800g The Eastern Barred Bandicoot’s Threatened Species brighter future for these critically endangered marsupials by supporting these population scientific name (Perameles LENGTH: 400mm (approximately) The Eastern Barred Bandicoot was originally recovery efforts on Phillip Island gunnii) means “Gunns Pouched LIFESPAN: 2-3 years. found in southern Australia with a distinct sub-species occurring in Tasmania and on badger”. This demonstrates STATUS: Endangered on mainland mainland Australia in Victoria and South Eastern Barred Bandicoot how early British explorers Australia. Australia. The mainland sub-species is Conservation Partners attempted to classify Australian listed as endangered under the Environment • Phillip Island Nature Parks Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act fauna into species groups that Eastern Barred Bandicoots • Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team Eastern Barred Bandicoots (Perameles gunnii) 1999, and is Extinct in the Wild in Victoria they were familiar with back at are a nocturnal insectivorous mammal that meaning that they only occur in managed or home (i.e. badgers) even though once flourished in south-western Victoria’s fenced populations (Victorian Advisory List of Threatened Species 2013). the bandicoot is not related to native grasslands and woodlands. They are a small brown-grey mammal with distinctive badgers in any way. white bars across their rump. At night, Eastern Threats Barred Bandicoots emerge from nests built Key threats including predation by the European in dense tussock grasses and scrub to forage red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the loss of almost for insects by digging many conical holes into all of its native habitat from human activities penguinfoundation.org.au has driven Eastern Barred Bandicoot decline.