Numbat

Numbat populations persist in pockets of Western Australian woodlands and translocation sites farther east. About the size of a squirrel, numbats sport reddish fur with bold white stripes that provide camouflage among sun-dappled logs. Unlike most marsupials, numbats are diurnal, venturing out during the day when termites warm up and travel near the soil surface. A pointed snout and 10-centimeter tongue coated in sticky saliva let numbats lap thousands of termites daily.

Numbats lack teeth suited for chewing; instead they crush termites against ridges in their mouths. They shelter at night inside hollow logs or burrows, plugging entrances with their bushy tails to stay warm. Females produce up to four young, which cling to nipples on the abdomen—numbats do not have a pouch. When the joeys grow too large to hold, the mother deposits them in a nest burrow lined with grass and returns to nurse several times a day.

European colonization brought foxes and feral cats that decimated numbat populations. Extensive clearing of wandoo and jarrah woodlands also removed hollow logs the animals rely on. Today fewer than 2,000 numbats survive in the wild.

Conservation recovery includes predator-proof fenced reserves like Karakamia Sanctuary, baiting programs that reduce fox numbers, and captive breeding at Perth Zoo followed by reintroductions. Land managers burn small patches of forest to generate new termite habitat while retaining older logs for shelter.

Students learn about numbats by mapping termite mounds, examining photos from camera traps, or designing “numbat hotels” that mimic hollow logs. By supporting fenced sanctuaries, keeping pet cats indoors near bushland, and restoring eucalypt woodlands, communities help ensure numbat stripes remain part of Australia’s biodiversity.