By XAVIER SMERDON
THIS summer visitors to the Werribee Open Range Zoo were given a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with an animal that is now extinct in the wild.
The Eastern Barred Bandicoot, a small marsupial that is native to Australia and was once considered common, has since been declared officially extinct in the wild in mainland Australia.
Only 150 of the cute little creatures are thought to still be alive in zoos and predator-proof release sites.
Werribee Zoo will showcase the Bandicoots as part of its new Keeper Talk segments, in which visitors met the people who care for the dwindling animals.
General Manager of Life Sciences Russel Traher said that the Keeper Talk was an exciting first for the zoo.
“It’s a great way for kids to learn more about one of our most vulnerable native species and to chat to Keepers about their job,” Mr Traher said.
The talks will take place in the Zoo’s Australian Journey exhibit, an immersive exhibit on the banks of the Werribee River that is also home to Kangaroos, Emu, Brolga and a range of birdlife.
The experience was so successful for the zoo that during the next few months, Australian Journey will be further developed to include an open air aviary for the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, a Koala exhibit and a Nocturnal House where all visitors will be able to see an Eastern Barred Bandicoot.
Zoos Victoria is part of a breeding and recovery program for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot together with a number of organisations including the Department of Environment and Primary Industries.
The aim of this program is to re-introduce the Eastern Barred Bandicoot back to predator-proof sites, including Mt Rothwell, Hamilton Community Parklands, Woodlands Historic Park and Werribee Open Range Zoo.
For more information visit www.zoo.org.au/werribee
