In an unimposing shed in Julia Creek, in outback Qld, you get the chance to see one of Australia’s rarest mammals, one which was thought to be extinct until recently.
Its a cute little critter, the Julia Creek Dunnart, munching on insects and scooting about the place. Apparently restricted to a small range on the Mitchell grasslands around the small townships of Richmond and Julia Creek, it is currently threatened by habitat destruction and introduced species, including the feral Cat, Fox, Cane Toad and Prickly Acacia.
The folks who live in Julia Creek itself seem pretty proud of it. They have a small captive population at the town’s information centre and have regular feeding sessions where the public can see the animals for themselves. Just outside of town there is a large fenced area (safe from cats and foxes), where a breeding programme is under way.
There is hope that the population will grow and this wonderful little animal can be brought back from the brink.
