SPECIES: Petrogale penicillata — Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby
CLASSIFICATION: Vulnerable
Fire and drought have taken their toll on the already fragile remaining populations of Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby surviving in NSW. Their home has burnt. Their food is burnt. It's now gotten to the point of airdropping emergency food rations, in the hope these reach the wallabies most in need.
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby is one of about 10 species of rock wallaby found in Australia. Distinctive wit a black stripe from its eye to the back of its head, a white cheek stripe and a bushy, brush tail, the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby is an expert at camouflaging into rocky surroundings. They are the quint-essential herbivore, found munching on native grasses at dusk and dawn, or crunching on foliage, fruits and roots of shrubs or trees anytime in between.
An agile climber, it literally lives life on the rocks, seeking caves and ledges for shelter when needed. This clever species of wallaby can climb trees with its sharp claws and strong legs and can even climb almost vertical rocks. Remaining populations of the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby are now fragmented, dotted along the Great Dividing Range from south-east Queensland down to the Grampians in western Victoria.
The Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby is already under threat from habitat destruction due to land clearing, predation by foxes and competition from feral goats, sheep and rabbits to name a few. It now faces an even harder battle ahead.
FAME is committed to helping save endangered species, like the Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby as one of our focusses through our Bushfire Appeal. Find out more and donate at www.fame.org.au