marsupials | Vanishing Species

Northern Hairy-nosed Wombat, photo by Jade, details below

The Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat may have a funny name, but it’s plight is deadly serious: it’s one of the rarest large mammals not only in Australia but in the world.

In 2003 the total population consisted of 113 individuals, including only around 30 breeding females.

Their historic range used to extend across 3 states, but they are now found in a tiny 3 km² area within the Epping Forest National Park in Queensland.

This photograph was taken in a museum.

The Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “critically endangered”
Population trend: stable

(Photo by “Jade” used under a Creative Common licence)

Numbat by Aussie Matt, details below

Like so many Australian animals, this sweet little guy is a marsupial, meaning their young are born relatively undeveloped and are raised in a pouch. Numbats live on a diet of termites, and have a long sticky tongue especially adapted for this.

The Numbat is under threat from habitat loss through land clearing and fire, and are killed by introduced predators such as feral foxes and cats.

It is estimated that there are fewer than 1,000 Numbats alive today.

The Numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus)
is on the IUCN Red List for Threatened Species as “endangered“
Population trend: decreasing

(Photo by “Aussie Matt” used under a Creative Common licence)