EASTERN BARRED BANDICOOT RECOVERY - THE ROLE OF THE VETERINARIAN IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ENDANGERED SPECIES

The eastern barred bandicoot, Perameles gunnii, formerly widespread on the volcanic plains of western Victoria, has been reduced to a single , rapidly-declining, remnant population at Hamilton, Recovery of this critically endangered species has included local management, in an att empt to stabilise the wild population, captive breeding and reintroduc tion to selected sites. Veterinary advice and assistance have been an integral part of the investigation, planning and implementation phases of the program. The development of appropriate, standardised techniqu es has enabled successful treatment of problems in the captive colony, Husbandry, including the hand-rearing of pouch young has been refined , Parasitism, identified as a contributor to poor health or death, has been investigated, Experimental development of techniques for the att achment of radio-transmitters to bandicoots has enabled improved field research to take place, Fox predation, a major limiting factor in the recovery program, has been studied in detail, in order to refine cont rol protocols.