Wildlife

Potoroo and Bettong Welfare — Small Macropod Conservation

Potoroos and bettongs are small kangaroo relatives that have been eliminated from most of mainland Australia by introduced predators and require active management for welfare and survival.

Key Facts

Long-footed potoroos are critically endangered with fewer than 1,000 individuals
Gilbert's potoroo is considered the world's rarest marsupial — fewer than 40 remain in the wild
Bettongs were once widespread across Australia but are now confined to predator-free areas
These small macropods are ecosystem engineers — bettong digging aerates soil and disperses fungi
Predator-free sanctuaries at places like Mulligans Flat in Canberra support reintroduced populations

Welfare Considerations

Potoroos and bettongs face extreme predation risk from cats and foxes in any unfenced landscape — their welfare in the wild outside protected areas is chronically compromised by predation stress and mortality. Within predator-free sanctuaries, welfare indicators normalise rapidly as animals engage in natural foraging and denning behaviour. The critical welfare need is expansion of predator-free areas sufficient to support genetically diverse self-sustaining populations.

What You Can Do

Support Australian Wildlife Conservancy and Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary
Donate to predator-free fencing projects for small macropod conservation
Advocate for national predator management strategies that protect small marsupials
Engage with community cat management discussions that affect small marsupial welfare