Protect the Woodlands Bandicoot Sanctuary

Actions for Biodiversity & Threatened Species Actions for Climate Resilience Melbourne VIC

The tale of Victoria’s Eastern Barred Bandicoot is one of hope and great excitement for conservationists in Australia. This adorably cute little nocturnal mammal was officially classified as extinct in the wild and was brought back from the brink of extinction, thanks to collaborative conservation efforts.

Now an endangered species, there’s still a lot that needs to be done to help protect the Eastern Barred Bandicoot. Once a common sight in grassland areas, their populations were decimated by predators such as house cats and wild foxes – and their natural habitat has been fragmented and curtailed by development.

In 2021, thanks to the work of Conservation Volunteers Australia, our many partners and organisations, and our dedicated volunteers, the conservation status of the Eastern Barred Bandicoot was reclassified from Extinct in the Wild to Endangered!

This groundbreaking achievement underscores the power of collective action, but the Eastern Barred Bandicoot is still at risk.

Unfortunately, a lack of environmental funding and a reduction in CVA’s operational budget, is putting the bandicoots under threat if we cannot afford their necessary care

We need your help to ensure that this shy, indigenous and endangered creature that characterises Australia’s rich biodiversity, gets every opportunity to flourish.

Make a donation

We need to continue to nurture the grasslands back to life under the expert guidance of the irrepressible Travis Scicchitano, CVA Threatened Species Officer, who manages the sanctuary at Woodlands Historic Park.

By making a donation, you are helping to keep the Bandicoots safe!

Bandicoot Sanctuary at Woodlands Historic Park

We’ve been working in partnership with a number of organisations to create predator-free sanctuaries where bandicoot populations can recover, so that they can be reintroduced into the wild.

At CVA we’re 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 manage these conservation efforts, with great results.

Watch the video below to learn about how Travis is working with Parks Victoria and dedicated volunteers at the Woodlands Historic Park in Melbourne to protect the Eastern Barred Bandicoot:

How your donations will help maintain the Woodlands Bandicoot Sanctuary

Keeping the Bandicoot Sanctuary in Woodlands free from predators and making sure invasive weeds don’t overtake our native grasslands takes a lot of work and effort by Travis and our volunteers.

Your donation will make certain that we can maintain the predator exclusion fencing, eradicate pest animals including rabbits and foxes, continue to restore grassland habitats, monitor bandicoot numbers at this key site and continue to provide community members just like you the opportunity to come and be part of the action on the ground.

We’ve helped the eastern barred bandicoot go from extinct in the wild to endangered. Now let’s help them go from endangered to flourishing!

Donate today and be part of the change.

Supplied by Zoos Victoria.

Thanks to our partner organisations and dedicated volunteers on this project:

Parks Victoria, Zoos Victoria, Mt Rothwell Biodiversity Centre, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, and the Eastern Barred Bandicoot Recovery Team.

Want to volunteer and help the eastern barred bandicoot?

Click on the link below to find dates and times for volunteering at the Woodlands Bandicoot Sanctuary in Melbourne!

Can’t attend events on the ground?

We know that it’s not always easy to find time to volunteer with us, so we’ve created ways for people to take action anywhere, anytime. Everyone can take part and help build resilience and adaptation to climate change!

Take action from home with our two app-led activities available on our CVA Community app:

Contribute to cooling your neighbourhood by planting climate-resilient native species in your backyard or on your balcony with Nature Blocks.
Lower your household carbon footprint by participating in the SeaToSource Plastic Waste Challenge and cutting back on your consumption of fossil fuel-based plastics.

Download the CVA Community app and get started now!

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🌟 Why Become a CVA Nature Steward? 🌟

Inspiration: Be a part of something bigger than yourself.
Empowerment: Your actions can change the course of nature.
Personal Connection: We speak your language and make it relatable.
Inclusivity: Everyone is welcome, and every contribution counts.
Optimism: Focus on win-win scenarios for nature and people.
Action-Oriented: Immediate, tangible steps you can take.
Fun: Enjoy the journey of making a difference.
Education: Learn about biodiversity and conservation while having a blast!

Help us save Australia’s endangered bandicoots!