I have to admit that until the Perup burn I knew very little about the Numbat. They were completely off my radar. Since then I have started following a couple of Facebook groups where I have been enjoying their antics. I needed to know more so I've done a bit of research and I'm sharing it here.
The numbat (also known as Walpurti and Banded Ant-eater) is a small endangered marsupial animal that used to live right across southern Australia. Today it is estimated there are fewer than 1000 left in the world located in 'two natural populations', in isolated pockets of SW of WA (some re-introduced populations) as well as two fenced sanctuaries in NSW and SA (both managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy)(1).
The remaining natural habitats are the Dryandra Woodlands, near Narrogin and Perup Nature Reserve, near Manjimup. It was the colony at Perup, specifically Weinup (above), that was most probably all but wiped out in March 2021. Ironically the Numbat Project make this statement on their website (link below):
'Fire can also threaten Numbats, which means land has to be carefully managed to prevent large bushfires'.
As it was the 'prescribed' burn that destroyed this colony, not wildfire, I really have to ask: is the cure worse than the disease?
But back to my research. Numbats have a 'long, slender sticky tongue (10–11 cm long)' with which they extract termites from 'narrow cavities in logs, leaf litter and in small holes in the ground'. Numbats only eat termites so loss of habitat to farming, human activity and fire, as well as death from introduced predators, make them very vulnerable.
But back to my research. Numbats have a 'long, slender sticky tongue (10–11 cm long)' with which they extract termites from 'narrow cavities in logs, leaf litter and in small holes in the ground'. Numbats only eat termites so loss of habitat to farming, human activity and fire, as well as death from introduced predators, make them very vulnerable.
Numbats are marsupials but don't have a pouch. Instead they have skinfolds that cover the suckling babies that remain attached for 6–7 months, until they are so big the mother can't walk properly. She then 'deposits them in the nest and returns often to suckle them'. The mother continues feeding them for about 9 months until they learn to forage for termites themselves. When they are 8–9 months old 'the babies start coming out of the burrow to sit and sunbake around the nest'. (1)
I have really fallen in love with these little guys. The more I learn about them, the more determined I am to try and protect them.
Image refs:
Image refs:
Graphic: Author, original digital drawing
Numbat pics: Lyn Alcock from the Dryandra Facebook group
Perup (Weinup) after the fire: Bart Lebbing
Text refs:
1. The Numbat Project
1. The Numbat Project
2. This estimation was made by Bill Smart who's property bordered the numbat colony. He regularly photographed the Numbats there and got to know quite a few of them.
I have never heard of numbats before, and now I am an ardent fan of theirs. Such interesting creatures. It breaks my heart that there are fewer than a thousand of them left on the planet. I am glad that there is a growing group of humans who will work to protect them. Thank you thank you.
ReplyDeleteYes I'm a bit embarassed that as an Australian, I knew nothing about them! If I don't know about them, and I am passionate about the environment, I can only assume many others know less and this is the crux of the issue. Educating the general public is essential if we are to have any chance of saving beautiful cretaures like the Numbat.
DeleteThis is great. They are such furtive critters. Someone knits baby numbat figuress and sells them in the local craft shop. Irony +
ReplyDeleteSarah I'm wondering when the FIP (fuckwits-in-power) will figure out that tourism will take a huge hit when there is no pretty scenery to entice them to spend their money.
DeleteBut what really keeps me up at night, is the probability that the Numbat pictured in the inset was hanging around because its babies were burning in a hollow log in there somewhere. Images like that in my brain make me want to hurt someone.
NB Sarah the photo I was referring to was in a previous post.
DeleteThe loss of the majority of a colony is unforgivable in the circumstances. The good part is the media attention and growing outrage. LOng may it continue.
ReplyDeleteCute little buggers, aren't they?
I agree they ARE cute Kylie. And if you've ever seen a video of them they are even more engaging - digging furiously or just moving around.
DeleteYes the Numbats definitely made our group much more visible, but the thought of them burning still upsets me. And people are still furious and that's a good thing.