VIDEO CAPTURE: Cameras allow the NPWS researchers to survey areas for wildlife without actually have to trap or interfere with an animal in anyway. This shot was taken in Ben Boyd National Park as part of research being conducted by Dr Andrew Claridge.
NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker last week released extraordinary pictures of a brief moment in the life of one of the country’s rarer and more secretive ground dwelling marsupials, the long-nosed potoroo.
Ms Parker released the footage ahead of Threatened Species Day on Friday. “Over 300 still images caught on a remotely located, movement-sensitive camera on the Far South Coast have been stitched together to create a one minute video clip showing a rare, female long-nosed potoroo tending her pouch joey,” Ms Parker said. “This is a threatened species in NSW. It’s rare and very secretive.
“So seeing this mother with a pouch joey leaving and entering the pouch and being groomed is quite exceptional and very touching.
“As far as we are aware this is the very first footage of a long-nosed potoroo in the wild providing such information.”
These hare-sized marsupials are listed as vulnerable in NSW.
In addition to the research by conducted in in Ben Boyd National Park south of Eden by Dr Andrew Claridge and National Parks, there is additional monitoring going on between Narooma and Cobargo.
The Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority last week installed two cameras at a property at Sam’s Creek following a potential then a confirmed sighting of a quoll.
Landowner Rhonda Ayliffe and her family were hopeful the motion sensitive camera would capture not only a quoll but other rare species.
Other camera monitoring for potoroos has also happened in the past in the Bermagui area and specifically at The Crossing education centre.
Ms Parker meanwhile said the new footage from south of Eden was a highlight on a new look threatened species website www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspecies/ that contains detailed information and photographs of more than 1,000 threatened plants, animals, populations and ecological communities found in NSW, including recordings of animal calls.
NPWS staff are heading back into Nadgee wilderness area this month for more survey works.
