First-ever bettong and potoroo joeys born at Australian Wildlife Sanctuary

Bettong and potoroo joeys have been born at an Australian wildlife sanctuary for the first time.

Aussie Ark’s Barrington Wildlife Sanctuary conducted its first trapping session of 2023 specifically targeting its most recently released macropod species of 2022.

These include Rufous bettongs, Long-nosed potoroos, and Parma wallabies. What they discovered is the first-ever confirmed bettong joeys and potoroo joeys born “wild and free” in the sanctuary.

The two macropod species, a type of marsupial, are endangered and face extinction - with many Australians not knowing they even exist.

So, the success of Aussie Ark’s breeding and rewilding programme is a big deal. Aussie Ark operations manager, Dean Reid, said the discovery of these precious joeys was an “amazing highlight” of the trapping session.

“It’s proof our animals are successfully adapted to their ‘wild life’,” he said. “They are finding food and shelter on their own, creating dens, and pairing up to breed. It’s as good as it gets, and we couldn’t be happier.”

Over five nights, 60 traps were deployed throughout the 400-hectare sanctuary, baited with carrots, sweet potato, and peanut butter.

Aussie Ark staff reported 72 individuals captured and processed over that period, which is a record. Each animal is micro-chip scanned or given a microchip and name if never caught before, then weighed, health-checked and pouch-checked prior to release. All this information is collected in a database for ongoing management.

“I’m so proud of what Aussie Ark is doing for our threatened and endangered species,” Reid concluded. “It’s the kind of measurable conservation work this planet needs.”