Boodie, Burrowing Bettong (Barrow and Boodie Islands)
Bettongia lesueur Barrow and Boodie Islands subspecies
Australia's Threatened Species Category
Vulnerable
Listed since: 31/08/2023
IUCN's Threatened Species Category
Near Threatened
Listed since: 31/12/2012
Population trend: Increasing
Other names: None
Priority Species? No
The Australian government's Threatened Species Action Plan 2022-2032 selected over 100 priority species derive from consultation with threatened species experts and the wider community. While all species are important, focusing on a limited number of species can help target effort and resources so that outcomes can be achieved, measured and shared.
Description
The Boodie, is a small-medium sized macropod from the rat-kangaroo family and now occurs naturally only on Barrow Island, located off the northern coast of Western Australia. The species is nocturnal and omnivorous, foraging mostly at night. It is the only macropod that creates burrows, which are used for shelter and refuge during the day.
Threats
Despite currently existing in areas that are free of predators and where habitat is protected, the species would be extremely susceptible to these threats once again if the areas ceased to be protected or managed. Releases outside of fenced reserves suggest that cat and fox predation is still a major limiting factor to population establishment over wider landscapes. Other threats to the species survival remain ongoing and include climate change, increased drought conditions, altered fire frequencies and severity, disease, low genetic diversity and subpopulation fluctuations.