Aussie Ark is celebrating this week with an Easter surprise of long-nosed potoroo joeys with pouch checks revealing there will be two new potoroo mums.
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The long-nosed potoroo is one of the smallest and most ancient members of the kangaroo family and is considered a living fossil - having remained relatively unchanged for around 10 million years.
Once widespread along the east coast of Australia, population has declined and fragmented since the introduction of foxes and cats, making it difficult for breeding, resulting in local extinctions.
The long-nosed potoroos will give birth to single young after a 38 day gestation period, with the newborns weighing only 0.3 grams - that's less than one Easter egg!
The young will stay in the pouch between 120-130 days. After leaving the pouch, they will remain near the mother, and still feed for about 40 days. Long-nosed potoroos will generally breed once or twice a year depending on climate and habitat conditions - so Aussie Ark is off to a great start.
"Long-nosed potoroos are so important to our ecosystem; they play a critical role in improving the health of forests. We are so thrilled to be starting off 2019 with two new potoroo joeys, this is just the beginning!" Amanda Woodbine, spokesperson for Aussie Ark said.
Video supplied by Aussie Ark
"The long-nosed potoroo is an ecosystem engineer, improving the health of the forest by dispersing a host of beneficial fungi spores as they forage and move around. These fungi, which form a major part of their diet, assist eucalypt and acacia trees absorb more water and nutrients, and are essential for seedling survival.
"The species also plays a key role in reducing the chance of fires by grazing undergrowth and turning over leaf litter," Amanda said.
Since opening Aussie Ark in 2017, the team has been building an insurance population of long-nosed potoroos ready for release into their 64 hectare and 400 hectare feral-free wildlife sanctuaries in late 2019.
We are so thrilled to be starting off 2019 with two new potoroo joeys, this is just the beginning!
- Amanda Woodbine, Aussie Ark
As a not for profit organisation, Aussie Ark raises the necessary funds to continue its ambitious vision. Investment allows for the construction of captive facilities and predator proof fencing on semi-wild parcels of land.
Aussie Ark is a registered environmental organisation and charitable institution under the Australian Charity and Not-for-Profit Commission. Aussie Ark has deductible gift recipient status (DGR status) and is registered for GST purposes. More information at www.aussieark.org.au.