The Habitat, Distribution and Conservation Status of the Tasmanian Bettong, Bettongia-Gaimardi (Desmarest)

Abstract

The Tasmanian bettong, Bettongia gaimardi, appears to be the most common member of its genus. Though formerly distributed on the Australian mainland, B. gaimardi is now found only in the open forest habitats of eastern Tasmania, the vast majority of which are susceptible to forestry operations, such as clearfelling, burning and the laying of 1080 poison. Unless carefully managed, all of these practices in the long term are likely to reduce bettong populations. This and the fact that only 5% of bettong habitat lies within National Parks, leads to the conclusion that the conservation status of this species should be regarded as 'vulnerable'.