Potoroo

No, I didn’t see one here in West Gippsland – sorry. That would be good, wouldn’t it? A little earlier this year, I was privileged to be invited by Moonlit Sanctuary at Pearcedale to have an ‘up close encounter’ with these endearing little mammals.

The Long-nosed Potoroo, Potorous tridactylus, is one of four species in the genus. Both the Victorian Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act and the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act list the Potorous tridactylus as ‘vulnerable’.  Highly-fragmented populations exist down the eastern seaboard, western Victoria and Tasmania. Their principal threats are habitat destruction by us, and predation by cats and dogs (us again!), and foxes.

Interestingly, it is thought the decline of the dingo has contributed to the reduction of potoroo numbers – the potoroo is exposed to increased competition for food and shelter by animals such as kangaroos and wallabies, and to increased predation from feral cats and foxes.

At first sight, the potoroo is a bandicoot-like marsupial until it moves with a kangaroo-like hopping motion. They are mostly nocturnal and usually solitary animals. Their diet consists principally of fungi, roots, seeds, and invertebrates.

The Long-nosed Potoroo is a promiscuous and opportunistic breeder - they may have 3 or 4 pregnancies a year. The new-born joey will spend up to 4 months in its mother’s pouch.

Thank heavens for recovery programs like those at Moonlit Sanctuary.