AUSTRALIA’S SHY SCRUB DWELLER
The Black-Striped Wallaby, scientifically known as Macropus melanops, is a member of the macropod family, which includes kangaroos, opossums, wombats, bandicoots, Tasmanian devils and koalas.
What sets black-striped wallabies apart are the striking black stripes that adorn its fur, contrasting against its otherwise sandy or reddish-brown coat. These stripes not only add to its visual appeal but also serve as effective camouflage amidst the dense foliage of its natural habitat.
A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL IN NSW
The black-striped wallaby, a shy and enigmatic marsupial is facing a precarious future. While the broader black-striped wallaby population might be listed as “Least Concern,” for the New South Wales subpopulation, the story is far grimmer. Classified as “Endangered,” their tale includes having to face mounting threats.
If you look closely on mamma’s back you’ll see the black stripe their name is derived from. PHOTO CREDIT: Cyril Ruoso
A LIFE OF SECRECY
Nocturnal and elusive, the black-striped wallaby shuns the spotlight.
Cloaked in greyish-brown fur with a distinctive black dorsal stripe, it blends seamlessly into the undergrowth, making sightings rare and magical.
Despite their solitary nature, these wallabies come alive under the cloak of darkness, gathering in social groups to graze on grasses and herbs. Observing these nocturnal feasts unveils a hidden side of the species, hinting at their complex social lives.
A PRECARIOUS BALANCE
However, the delicate balance of their existence is under threat.
Habitat loss and fragmentation, driven by agricultural expansion and infrastructure development, have severely impacted their once-expansive range.
Confined to isolated pockets of suitable habitat, these wallabies struggle to find the resources they need to survive.
PREDATORS IN THE SHADOWS
Adding to their woes are introduced predators like feral cats and foxes.
These cunning hunters pose a constant threat, particularly to vulnerable joeys still developing in their mothers’ pouches.
The combination of habitat loss and predation creates a deadly cocktail, pushing the New South Wales population closer to the brink.
The fight for the black-striped wallaby’s survival in New South Wales is NOT a lost cause. YOU can help us ensure that this shy marsupial continues to grace the shadows of New South Wales for generations to come.
We need your help to continue to protect precious habitats in New South Wales.
Save Our Woodlands has secured 4 significant tracks of land but funding is still needed for each.
Additionally, we are raising funds to build 4 km of wildlife-friendly fencing to keep stock out of precious and protected in perpetuity habitats of endangered and at risk species.
Save Our Woodlands is an environmentally conscious group of volunteers dedicated to preserving threatened birds, animals and ecosystems in the woodlands of New South Wales, Australia.
Only 15% of our woodlands remain, the rest has been cleared for agriculture.
Save Our Woodlands Inc. secures and protects woodlands in NSW and pays landholders, in perpetuity, to conserve, enhance and re-establish native woodlands on THEIR land, and to manage these woodlands, so they are maintained.
BUT we need YOUR help. Together we can bring about change. Please consider donating.
People tend to think that woodlands are “just bush,” consequently, over 85% of the native woodlands in New South Wales, Australia have been replaced by agriculture.
Donate $10 per month & help protect critical habitats. By doing so YOU will prevent further species from extinction.
Our work is only possible with your support.
