stawell, grampians, parks, victoria, critter, phascogale, endangered

One of Victoria’s most elusive and endangered animals was caught on camera in the Grampians National Park. The Brush-trailed Phascogale, a small nocturnal marsupial which is listed as a threatened species, was spotted by a Parks Victoria monitoring program. Cameras were set up to catch a glimpse of the critter, which is losing habitat and nesting spots because of illegal wood harvesting, and also being attacked by foxes and feral cats. Parks Victoria installed motion-sensor cameras and nesting boxes which replicated tree-hollows. The program, which will be ramped-up during Spring, is helping Parks Victoria to manage the Phascogale’s recovery. Grampians chief ranger David Roberts said Phascogale populations would continue to decline if people illegally harvest firewood and fail to restrain their cats and dogs. “Please be aware that firewood collection is not allowed in many parks and reserves, and significant penalties apply for illegally damaging trees and removing wood,” he said. “Around 80 per cent of rare and threatened native animals have been recorded in Victoria’s parks and reserves. “When getting out into nature this Spring, make sure you leave the parks and reserves as you found them.” Parks Victoria also detected Phascogales near the Ararat Regional Park, and is investigating evidence of its presence in Lonsdale Nature Conservation Reserve. The Brush-tailed Phascogale is one of many animals that finds refuge in the Grampians National Park. According to Parks Victoria there are more than 160 species of threatened flora and fauna in the park – 40 of which do not exist anywhere else in the world.

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