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We need you! WWF–Australia needs your help to assist researchers estimate the population of the rare and elusive numbat in south-west WA. Once abundant in southern Australia, this unique termite-loving marsupial, is now only found in a small area in southwest WA
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About Numbat Discovery
The numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is an iconic, Australian endemic marsupial, which is Western Australia's faunal emblem. Prior to European settlement, numbats occurred over much of the southern half of the Australian continent. Today, the numbat occurs in only 1% of its former range.
Two natural sub-populations remain, located in the Dryandra Woodland and the Upper Warren Region (UWR) in Western Australia (WA). In an attempt to conserve the species, 13 reintroductions to previously occupied areas have been conducted since 1985, of which seven are deemed successful. Nevertheless, the population is still considered in decline, and therefore the species is listed as endangered under The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as endangered under the Australian Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, and as ‘endangered fauna that is rare or is likely to become extinct’ under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (WA).
Numbat population parameters are difficult to estimate due to the species’ elusive nature, occurrence at low densities, and the fact that they rarely enter traps. Techniques used have included sightings from a vehicle along a transect, but this methodology is less successful in the Upper Warren region where the forest is much denser than at Dryandra. New technological advances in remote sensor cameras mean that we now have a fantastic opportunity to use this ‘remote’ technology to gather essential information on Numbats and utilise this to ensure their survival. And that is where you come in.