Wild Numbat Conservation and Welfare in Western Australia

The critical conservation situation of numbats — diurnal marsupials facing predation by introduced foxes and cats.

Key Facts

Numbats are listed as Endangered with fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining in Western Australian bushland
They are one of the few diurnal marsupials and have highly specific requirements for termite-rich woodland habitat
Introduced red foxes and feral cats are the primary drivers of numbat decline and ongoing mortality
Predator-free fenced sanctuaries have enabled numbat population recovery within protected areas
Each numbat eats approximately 20,000 termites daily — requiring extensive undisturbed foraging territory

Welfare Considerations

Numbat welfare is almost entirely determined by predation pressure from introduced foxes and cats. These charismatic diurnal marsupials — unique in their termite-specialist, daytime-active lifestyle — have no evolutionary adaptation to evasion of mammalian predators that evolved to hunt during daylight hours. Their bold, visible behavior makes them easy targets. Predator-free fenced sanctuaries have produced genuine population recovery but cannot scale to protect all potential numbat habitat. Broad-scale predator management through baiting and trapping is controversial but has produced measurable wildlife recovery in landscape trials. The numbat welfare situation is ultimately a conservation investment decision with clear welfare consequences.

What You Can Do

Support Australian Wildlife Conservancy and Project Numbat habitat protection and predator management programs
Advocate for investment in feral cat and fox management programs that protect vulnerable native species
Learn about numbat ecology and share information about this remarkable diurnal marsupial
Donate to predator-proof fencing programs that create safe sanctuaries for numbat population recovery