Eastern Barred Bandicoot

Once common across Victoria’s volcanic plains and grasslands, the Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) mainland species is now one of Australia’s most endangered species and is considered extinct in the wild.

Linked to the bandicoot’s decline is the use for farming and consequent loss of over 99% of its native grassland habitat.  Further pressures such as predation from introduced foxes, cats and dogs and competition with rabbits have also caused decline.  The survival of these shy tussock-dwellers now depends entirely on captive breeding programs and secure, healthy, predator-free habitat.

Species: Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Perameles gunnii)
Location: Victoria
Status: Endangered
Threats: Predation and loss of habitat
Our work: monitoring, habitat restoration, predator control, community education

The Eastern Barred Bandicoot is extinct in the wild and occurs as three introduced populations in southern Victoria: Hamilton Community Parklands, Mt Rothwell and Woodlands Historic Park. With Trial introductions occurring at French Island and planned for Tiverton Station.  Once widespread over the volcanic plains of south-west Victoria and occurred between Melbourne and south-east South Australia. The Eastern Barred Bandicoot (Mainland) is a yellowish-brown marsupial with 3-4 pale bars on its hindquarters. It has large pointed ears and a tail and can grow up to approximately 660 grams.

Taking action to conserve Eastern Barred Bandicoots

As part of our Wild Futures campaign, Conservation Volunteers Australia is working in partnership with Parks Victoria, Zoos Victoria, Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Centre, the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team to create predator free sanctuaries where bandicoots can flourish in their native grassland habitat.

Community members managed by Conservation Volunteers Australia are constructing and maintaining the predator exclusion fencing, eradicating pest animals including rabbits and foxes, restoring grassland habitats and monitoring bandicoot numbers at key sites across Victoria including;

• Woodlands Historic Park – adjacent to Melbourne Airport, Victoria.
• Hamilton Parklands – South West Victoria
• Tiverton Station – Western Victoria

Our work to help save the Eastern Barred Bandicoot is supported by many organisations and individuals: including Zoos Victoria, Parks Victoria and Mount Rothwell and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team.

Melbourne Airport is the main supporter of the Healthy Habitats Program which supports the Eastern-Barred Bandicoot recovery work at Woodlands Historic Park.

Watch this great video about the project from Zoos Victoria:

Conservation Success

Our work with the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team is growing in impact.

In May 2020, we were is delighted to release six Eastern Barred Bandicoots (EBB) into Parks Victoria’s EBB Sanctuary in Woodlands Historic Reserve, Victoria.

The EBB is critically endangered in Victoria, so this is a wonderful success for the community volunteers who have been involved in this initiative, and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team who have worked towards this goal.