The Breeding and Reestablishment of the Brush-Tailed Bettong, Bettongia-Penicillata, in South-Australia

Abstract

The brush-tailed bettong formerly ranged over much of southern Australia, but is now extinct except in the south-west of Western Australia and northern Queensland. A small colony was obtained from the Perth Zoo in 1975 and these were bred successfully at the Para Wirra Recreation Park near Adelaide and provided stock for a re-establishment program in South Australia. Details of the breeding program are given. Bettongs were kept in small colonies, usually one male and two or three females; the young were removed when they reached 550 g, or, with very intensive breeding, at a lower weight. The animals were fed principally on commercial kangaroo pellets with a range of supplements. Usually two offspring per year were produced although up to three were produced with intensive breeding. Females commenced breeding when approximately 4 months old. Techniques for re-establishment were tested on small islands. One island, Island A in Venus Bay, provided apparently ideal habitat and the captive-bred stock released there established quickly. Bettongs bred in the wild on two small and two large islands. However, the introduction to St Francis I., their last stronghold before extinction in South Australia, was least successful. Possible reasons for this are discussed.