Eastern Barred Bandicoot

The mainland subspecies of Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Perameles gunnii, is now considered extinct in the wild.  They are listed as endangered federally.

Bandicoots were once widespread across grasslands and grassy woodlands of western Victoria and South Australia.  By 1991, however, the subspecies was at the brink of extinction, primarily due to habitat loss (for agriculture and development) and predation by introduced foxes and cats.

A captive breeding program was established using Eastern Barred Bandicoots from the last known population at Hamilton.  Since then, a coordinated Recovery Program has focused on captive breeding, habitat management and predator control.  There are currently three small reintroduced populations of Eastern Barred Bandicoots.

Zoos Victoria coordinates the captive breeding program and so plays a key role in the recovery of this species through:

• Supplementing reintroduced wild populations through captive breeding for reintroduction
• Maintaining an insurance population in captivity
• Conducting research to improve breeding and reintroduction success
• Increasing community awareness and support for the Eastern Barred Bandicoot

A 3.7 ha soft-release enclosure (i.e. a large protected, predator-proof enclosure containing natural habitat) at Werribee Open Range Zoo enables Zoo visitors to connect with Eastern Barred Bandicoots and their basalt plains environment. 

Plans and publications

 Download a comprehensive overview of what Zoos Victoria is doing to save the Eastern Barred Bandicoot (431 KB)

 DSE (2009) Action Statement No. 4 - Eastern Barred Bandicoot (mainland subspecies) Peremeles gunnii (unnamed subspecies).  Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria.

Watson, A.J. and Halley, M. (2000). Eastern Barred Bandicoot Perameles gunnii (mainland subspecies) Recovery Plan. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victoria.

DSEWPC (2010). Perameles gunnii unnamed subsp. in Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra.