NUMBAT

(Endangered IUCN Redlist)

The Numbat, also referred to as the Banded anteater, is a small marsupial
mammal that has a reddish brown coat with white stripes running across
its back. On its face, there can be found a dark bar running from the ears,
through the eyes, and down the snout, on either side of the head. The
numbat also possesses a bushy tail, and with a tongue that can extend to
at least 100mm, but unlike other marsupials, the numbat doesnt have a
pouch.
The numbat, was once distributed widely across the south
of Australia, but can now only be found in the southern
parts of Western Australia, save for two populations
located in South Australia. In the time when Numbats were
abundant, the species lived in habitat comprised of arid to
semi-arid bushland, and grasslands. However, now the
species can only be found living in eucalypt forests and
woodlands.
Contrary to most other marsupials, the numbat is mostly active during the
day, spending its daylight hours finding food, and sleeping by night. The
numbat feeds on termites, which is why living in forest woodlands is so
important to the survival of the species, because termites feed on the
heartwood of these forests. In one day, a numbat can consume up to 20
000 termites. In order to reach, and eat these termites, the numbat has a
long snout, and strong front claws. Hollow logs, are used by the numbats
both for sleeping, and also for nesting, come breeding season, between
January and May. The females, also unlike other marsupials, do not have a
pouch for young. Instead, the offspring of which there can be around four,
must cling onto the fur of their mother. They are fed, at night.
Some of the reasons for the loss in numbers of the numbat, are the
introduction of the red fox, rabbits, and rats, which could have led to
an increase in feral cat population; in addition to a loss of habitat, and
elevated populations of raptor. Frequent fires really affect the numbat,
because the fire reduces the number of hollow logs, which, as
mentioned above, are really important for the numbats life. As a result
of the above mentioned threats, the numbats are now extinct in 99% of their original habitat. In the
five years between 2003 and 2008, numbat populations have declined by 20%.
So far, a number of things have been done, to assist in the numbats recovery, such as captive breeding
programs, numbat training in captive breeding programs, and fox and feral cat control programs. As a
result, the number of deaths, in the numbat population, has decreased. The captive breeding program,
held in the Perth Zoo, not only breeds and releases numbats, but actually trains them. This is because
captive-bred numbats lack the necessary skills, to avoid predators, when released into the wild. To
combat this, using the training scheme, the numbats are exposed to raptors, while loud noises and
bird calls are played. Further actions to be taken, include changes to the fire regimes, reducing the
number of fires in areas of numbat habitat, as fire plays a big role in the sustainability of numbats.
Furthermore, a program to reduce the concentration of raptors in the area, would be beneficial to the
numbat, due to their small size. This would be conducted, by relocating the birds, to other, more
suitable habitat.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Animal Diversity Web 2013, ADW: Myrmecobius fasciatus: INFORMATION, University of
Michigan, accessed 28 August 2015,
<http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Myrmecobius_fasciatus/>
Australian Government Department of the Environment 2015, Mrymecobius fasciatus Numbat, Australian Government, accessed 28 August 2015,
<http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=294>
A-Z Animals n.d., Numbat (Mrymecobius fasciatus) - Animals - A-Z Animals - Animal Facts,
Information, Pictures, Videos, Resources and Links, A-Z Animals, accessed 28 August 2015,
<http://a-z-animals.com/animals/numbat/>
Earth's Endangered Creatures 2006, Numbat Facts, Numbat Pictures, Earth's Endangered
Creatures, accessed 28 August 2015,
<http://www.earthsendangered.com/profile.asp?gr=M&sp=303>
IUCN Redlist 2008, Myrmecobius fasciatus (Banded Anteater, Numbat), IUCN, accessed 28
August 2015, <http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/14222/0>