Long-nosed Bandicoot Perameles nasuta

Long-nosed Bandicoot Perameles nasuta

Bandicoots used to be a common sight in Sydney’s backyards and patches of bush after dark. In recent years, however, numbers have declined due to habitat loss and predation by cats and dogs.

The North Head population, the closest to Sydney’s CBD, is isolated by development and recovery actions are necessary to help the remaining bandicoots survive.

For the species to survive it is important to increase community education. People often mistake long-nosed bandicoots for rats. If you know what to look for, there are, however, easy ways to tell the two apart.

The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife has committed funds to promote the plight of Sydney’s endangered Long-nosed Bandicoot. Funding provided cages for the bandicoots to visit schools in Taronga Zoo’s Zoomobile and to be on display at the zoo’s Education Centre.