Our Animals

South Australia has had a very poor record in terms of the preservation of its native species. It has been estimated that in 1836, when the colony of South Australia was being established there were at least 105 species of mammals present. Since then, more than 20 have become extinct in Australia. The majority of these extinctions are the small species of marsupial and rodent. Most extinction in South Australia occurred between the 1880’s and 1930’s.

There are 5 major causes of this massive extinction rate including:

• Loss of habitat
• Predation by introduced species such foxes and feral cats
• Hunting
• Disease
• Competition from introduced species

Only by the provision of large areas of habitat, free from introduced species, can it be possible to re-introduce the animals that have become extinct in South Australia. Unfortunately, for a number of South Australian mammal species, we are too late; they have become completely extinct throughout Australia.

Some of the successful re-introductions made at Warrawong include:

• Red-necked Pademelon
• Tammar Wallaby
• Woylie (Western Brush-tailed Bettong)
• Rufous Bettong
• Platypus
• Long-nosed Potoroo
• Red-necked Wallaby
• Southern Brown Bandicoot

Other mammals that live at Warrawong include:

• Western Grey Kangaroo
• Red Kangaroo
• Euro
• Brushtail Possum
• Ringtail Possum
• Swamp (Black) Wallaby

Photos of Our Animals