The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is on a mission to spot black-striped wallabies around northern NSW’s Gondwana rainforests as part of a 10-year threatened species project.
Team Leader of NPWS’s North Coast Branch, Matthew Wiseman said sightings of the threatened species could lead to funding to help manage weeds, fences or predator-baiting.
“We’re calling out to anyone living around Mallanganee, Richmond Range National Park, Hogarth Range, Bonalbo and Bungawalbin – all areas around World Heritage listed Gondwana rainforest – to tell us if they’ve seen any black-striped wallabies,” Mr Wiseman said.
“If people keep an eye out and report sightings, we’ll be able to better understand this threatened species’ distribution, habitat and potential threats, so we can develop better long-term conservation outcomes,” he said.
“On private property where black-striped wallaby sightings are confirmed, funding may be available to help manage threats including weed work, fencing and baiting for predators.”
Mr Wiseman said the quest to spot the wallaby was part of the 10-year Burning Hotspots – Gondwana Threatened Species and Fire project, funded through the NSW Environmental Trust’s Saving our Species (SoS) Partnership Grant.
“The black-striped wallaby is a small to medium-sized wallaby, grey-brown in colour with a narrow black stripe running down the centre of the back,” he said.
“It is smaller and more colourful than the more common red-necked wallaby, which has rust-red patches on the shoulders, arms and upper legs and prominent white cheek- and hip-stripes,” he said.
Further information, including how to report a sighting of the wallaby can be accessed at this PS News link.
