RFI: Victorian sites for Fat-tailed Dunnart Sminthopsis crassicaudata
Hi all,
My name is Michael Sebastian. I’m a PhD student at the University of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, studying wild Fat-tailed Dunnarts in Victoria. Unfortunately, the species is far less common in this state than it was 20 or even 10 years ago, and is now threatened in Victoria.
One of the difficulties this has presented me with is trying to find sites where the species can still be reliably found, so I can study them further. Sporadic sightings still occur, but they are not concentrated in any particular areas. The largest known population in Victoria, at the Western Treatment Plant in Werribee, is likely extinct. So, I figured the mammalwatching community might have a good idea of other good spots to look.
Does anyone know of any areas in Victoria where Fat-tailed Dunnarts can still be found relatively reliably? I’m particularly interested in areas on the southern basalt grasslands, on the Victorian Volcanic Plain. However, if you know of any good spots elsewhere in the state (e.g. somewhere in the Victorian Riverina in the north, or maybe in the Wimmera plains out in the northwest), I would still be very interested in hearing about it! This information will be very helpful for my studies directed towards the conservation of this species in Victoria.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Kind Regards,
Michael
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