Zoos Victoria’s Fighting Extinction Species NEW HOLLAND MOUSE Pseudomys novaehollandiae Endangered/Vulnerable Photo: David Paul New Holland Mouse (NHM) populations of the endangered NHM are declining are declining rapidly in all states, with a 99% and are highly unstable due to habitat reduction in mice in Tasmania, and seven out destruction, inappropriate fire regimes and of 12 known Victorian populations now extinct. introduced predators, like cats and foxes. However, new populations of this shy native By boosting NHM numbers and the number rodent have been found in the past few years, of populations, and inspiring people to learn highlighting how little we know about the species and care about them, we can secure a bright and its range. Sadly, remaining populations future for this sweet and tiny mouse. Zoos Victoria Photo: Phoebe Burns is committed to Fighting Extinction We are focused on working with partners to secure the survival of our priority species before it is too late. With its large eyes, big rounded ears and bi-coloured pink and dusky brown tail, the New Holland Mouse is a beautiful rodent native to small areas of the heathlands, woodlands and vegetated sand dunes of south eastern Australia. Sadly, numbers of this precious mouse have declined rapidly and many populations are now extinct. Zoos Victoria is working with partners and PhD students to find the remaining populations and protect them for the future. KEY PROGRAM OBJECTIVES mammal research increased, the range of the Raise awareness and facilitate use of boot cleaning stations for $20,000 • Determine the status and population trends NHM expanded to include Victoria, south-east mitigation of Cinnamon Fungus. of wild NHMs through long-term targeted Queensland and Tasmania, though no NHMs surveys and genetic analyses. have been detected in Tasmania for over 10 Total cost over five years $730,000 years. The mice were also found in the ACT, but • Reintroduce NHMs to safe areas of their are believed to be extinct. In Victoria, historical PROGRAM PARTNERS former range to increase population records show NHM populations at 12 distinct numbers and health. locations, but the species now only occurs Australian Frozen Zoo • Restore lost genetic diversity using at 5 locations in East Gippsland. All current australianfrozenzoo.com.au cryopreserved samples from an extinct populations are fragmented and unstable, and Department of Environment, population of the NHM. annual monitoring has shown a recent decline Land, Water and Planning • Develop appropriate husbandry protocols across the sites, likely due to drought conditions. delwp.vic.gov.au and a captive insurance program if required Key threatening processes for NHM include: Dr Phoebe Burns • Protect NHM habitat. • Habitat destruction and fragmentation. nativemouse.com • Increase community awareness of the • Genetic isolation of fragmented populations. Monash University plight of the NHM and secure support for monash.edu its conservation. • Inappropriate fire regimes and habitat management. Museums Victoria PROGRAM OUTCOMES • Die-back of vegetation. museumsvictoria.com.au • Completed surveys of all historic and • Cinnamon Fungus and introduced feral Parks Victoria current NHM populations across Victoria predators. parkweb.vic.gov.au and confirmed that 7/12 populations are With such small numbers, local events such as Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne now extinct. bushfires or predation by foxes and cats can rbg.vic.gov.au • Found living populations of NHMs at swiftly wipe out entire local populations. University of Melbourne Wilsons Promontory National Park unimelb.edu.au after 5 years with no sightings. THE PLAN • Rediscovered the NHM at The Lakes The following critical next steps will enable National Park after 20 years with no sightings. Zoos Victoria, along with our partners, to • Discovered a new population at Sperm protect the NHM and improve the future of this tiny and mighty mouse: Whale Head. How can I help? • Analysed genetic differences within and Monitor the New Holland $180,000 between NHM populations. Mouse in the wild. We are working hard to • Produced live cell cultures and induced Reintroduce the New Holland pluripotent stem cells from tissue samples Mouse to the Mornington $220,000 support wild populations, from an extinct population that were Peninsula. improve genetic health and cryopreserved for over 20 years. Develop a long-term $20,000 increase the focus on this • Produced a full genome sequence for the monitoring program. NHM; a first for anyPseudomys species. Restore genetic diversity lost beautiful native mouse. $20,000 p.a • Commenced planning and site inspections from an extinct population. You can support our Wildlife for the reintroduction of the NHM to its Commence captive breeding $80,000 former range. (*if required) for reintroduction. Conservation Master Plan Help people get to know and THE SPECIES $40,000 2019-2024 by donating at: love the New Holland Mouse. zoo.org.au/donate The New Holland Mouse weighs a tiny 15-25g. Investigate sites for New $60,000 It nests communally in underground burrows Holland Mouse. and emerges at night to forage for seeds, Develop and deliver a invertebrates, fungi and plant matter. The NHM $10,000 community engagement plan. was rediscovered in 1967 in New South Wales after no sightings for close to a century. As small Find out more zoo.org.au/fightingextinction.