New bettong project

The Wet Tropics’ endangered northern bettong will be better protected through a new project, announced this week.

With an estimated 1000 northern bettongs remaining, Far Northerners are banding together to help the elusive marsupial which is only found in the Mareeba area and is known for its love of native truffles.

The $170,000 project, funded by the Australian Government, aims to improve habitat for northern bettongs outside national park land.

Northern Bettong Project coordinator Chelsy Maloney from Terrain NRM said activities would include cool burns by traditional owners in northern bettong habitat and work with landholders on land management practices in potential bettong areas.

Terrain NRM will also be working with the Northern Bettong Recovery Team including James Cook University researchers, Queensland Parks and Wildlife officers, the World Wildlife Fund, Bush Heritage and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

Recovery Team Chair Sandra Abell said the project “filled a gap” in the recovery of this species.

“The focus has largely been on protected areas like in national parks,’’ Dr Abell said. “Getting landowners involved will be a huge step towards potentially increasing bettong habitat.”

She said the northern bettong population had dramatically declined over the past 20 to 30 years.
The only known populations now were in the Lamb Range and Mt Spurgeon areas.

“Their habitat is very restricted – in some places it is only 6km wide,’’ she said. “Bettongs need cockatoo grass, especially in the dry season, and activities like cool burns help to stop woodlands from thickening and maintain grassy understoreys.”