Yesterday I spent some time in the bush again and returned as a very happy man. No, I haven’t found any Ornate Dragons – instead I had a superb sighting of an elusive Southern Brown Bandicoot or Quenda (Isoodon obesulus). Often mistaken for large rats, the Quenda is a marsupial roughly the size of a rabbit that forages on insects, small vertebrates and plants in dense shrubland and understory of Eucalypt woodland, a habitat that provides both ample food and security. They use their strong claws to dig cone-shaped hollows for food, most of the time the only trace you’ll find as the slightest movement or sound generally makes this wary animal rush back to its nest for cover – long skirts from grass trees are often favourite spots.
The Southern Brown Bandicoot population has been protected as numbers declined due to habitat loss and feral predators. However, the Western Shield feral predator control program from the Department of Parks and Wildlife has brought a recent recovery, and not only the Bandicoot but also other small native animals as Numbat, Bilby and Woylie will hopefully be protected for extinction. From this perspective the presence of the Quenda is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem – apart from the good shots another reason to make me happy.
You really deserves to be a happy man after capturing these sharp images from wild 🙂
As you said, “Quenda” looks like a blend of rabbit and rat 🙂
It’s so hard to take images in wild and that too of a rare animal …
So glad you can imagine my happiness – it truly is what I’d call a ‘fist-pump’ moment – total victory so to speak 🙂
They normally go in hiding so quickly that all you see is their tail – at most. This one didn’t seem to notice me while he/she was busy digging and eating. When I came closer it briefly looked up, but kept ignoring me to my big surprise. After I got distracted for about ten seconds or so it had disappeared – but only after I’d seen more than I’d ever hoped for.
Yea, some times we need the luck factor too, to help us with our photography, right?
Congratulations on finding it and taking a great photo. 🙂
Thank you Alison – I’m still over the moon :))
Terrific photos!
Thank you so much for these kind words Montucky – I’m very happy they worked out well
Gday.We live in Como WA.Have very little shrubs in backyard,which is only small.We have a birdbath and seed tray.Now we seem to have two Quendas popping out of shrubbery at the back fence every now and then.The doves try to scare them away,but the little fellas keep fossicking.The crows come though and they pissbolt for the shrubbery.They are so cute.
Hi Mike,
Great to hear you have Quendas in the backyard! They really seem to make a comeback in suburban areas – really good news. Are they treating you on some free groundwork too 😉
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Hi Maurice, my name is Hayley, I’m a PhD student from the University of Adelaide. I LOVE your photo of the bandicoot digging/ foraging. I was wondering whether you would allow me to use this photo on a poster at a public wildlife park (Cleland Wildlife Park) to educate people about the importance of southern brown bandicoots (and how important their digging activities are for the ecosystem)? Please comment and let me know.
All in all, lovely post and lovely photos. Cheers, Hayley.
Hi Hayley,
No problem at all, always happy to share photos.
Best regards
Maurice