The importance of Knowing Numbats

Why we need to act

Known as the Noombat in the Nyungar language, and Walpurti in the Pitjantjatjara dialect, sadly Numbats today can only be found in less than 1% of their former range. They are one of only two diurnal marsupials – active during the day rather than night – making them a special addition to Australia’s incredible biodiversity. While sitting in the same order as other carnivorous marsupials, numbats are only distantly related to animals like quolls and the Tasmanian Devil and are actually more closely aligned with the extinct Thylacine.

Numbats are the sole member of their family, Myrmecobiidae, which studies suggest puts their impact on phylogenetic diversity loss as far greater should they go extinct – just one more reason they need to be saved. 

Solution and approach

In this continuation of our successful Protection and Monitoring program, the Numbat Task Force and research scientist Dr Tony Friend will collar wild numbats within the Western Australian Wheatbelt. Monitoring takes place using radio-tracking technology, and when an individual is located, the following is recorded:

• Status (alive or deceased).

• GPS fix.

• Unique Log Number of sighting is assigned.

The most important aspect of the project is knowing what predators are affecting Numbat populations. When a predation event has occurred, and the predator cannot be easily identified, a swab from the collar is taken and sent for DNA testing. This is a critical aspect as, should there be a rise in cat and/or fox predation on the Numbat population(s), this enables more effective policy for conservation initiatives like cat control through baiting, trapping and other methods if required. 

As part of this research, young Numbats will also be collared to inform knowledge of survival rates, and collared individuals remain in the program for the length of their life. This technique gives vital information on home range size, breeding and dispersal of young. The project will also inform stakeholders on future reintroductions within Western Australia, giving these efforts and the species the best chance of success.