About the Numbat
Western Australia is a wonderful land with huge biodiversity.
The numbat is the official mammal emblem of Western Australia, and we chose a name and logo linking ourselves to our land. We also wanted to do something for the numbat as this little critter endemic to Australia is endangered. Perth Zoo works with scientists and local communities to breed numbats and support their release into wild habitats, where they can enjoy their diet of termites, a delicacy they can eat voraciously.
Working with Numbats
Perth Zoo established its Numbat breed-for-release program in 1987, studying and perfecting the species’ reproductive biology over the next five years. The first successful breeding was in 1992. In the years since, refinements in the husbandry, diet and breeding approaches has meant an increase in the number of animals born and available for release.
At eleven months of age, the young Numbats are weaned and begin their preparation for release into the wild.
The first release of Perth Zoo-bred Numbats into the wild took place in 1993. Since then, more than 294 Numbats bred at the Zoo have been released by Parks & Wildlife into natural habitat (as at Sep 2023).
These Numbats have been released into the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve (WA), Stirling Range National Park (WA), Boyagin Nature Reserve(WA), Tutanning Nature Reserve (WA), Batalling State Forest (WA), Coconarup Timber Reserve (WA), Dale Conservation Park (WA) and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Scotia Sanctuary (NSW), Yookamurra (SA) and Mt Gibson (WA).
Source & link: Perth Zoo
For more information about numbats there is also an organisation called Project Numbat.
Link: Project Numbat
N.B. We have no affiliations and we provide these links for information only.
