Help Endangered Woylies in Australia's South West

The Woylie is a small macropod that was once common across southern Australia. Also known as the Brush-tailed Bettong, these nocturnal critters love to eat underground fungi, including what we would consider a culinary luxury - truffles. The Woylie droppings provide surrounding plant life with access to the abundant nutrients found in truffles, helping the plants flourish and fight disease. Unwittingly, the Woylies play a vital role in keeping the bush healthy.

Woylie populations declined significantly following European settlement, and by the 1970's the Woylie population was limited to three small areas within Australia's South West region. According to an ABC news story, Woylies are now under real threat of extinction, partly due to the impact of feral cats. Scientists also suspect an as-yet undiagnosed disease as a contributing factor in decreasing numbers.

The Perup Sanctuary was established in Manjimup in 2010 to address the declining Woylie population.

Click for more information from the Department of Environment and Conservation about the decline of Woylie numbers.

Keep an eye on the news pages on fauna.org.au for volunteering opportunities to monitor the Woylies in the sanctuary as well as opportunities to assist with other wildlife preservation projects. Alternatively, those interested in offering their time to the Perup Sanctuary can contact Dr Adrian Wayne at DEC Manjimup (08) 9771 7988 or Kathy Dawson of the Warren Catchment Council on (08) 9771 8180.

Woylies are just one of the many species that live in WA's South West - the most ecologically diverse region in the world. Join us on our tour of the region to discover the remarkable plants, animals and bird life that populate this beautiful area.