Australia is famous for its rich and diverse wildlife, and the Whitsundays are no exception, home to several rare and endangered species.
Hopping into the picture, the Proserpine Rock Wallaby is one of the Whitsundays’ most intriguing native animals, found exclusively in the region’s rainforests and on Hayman Island.
The Proserpine Rock Wallaby is larger than similar species, but it is still an extremely small animal, with the larger of males only growing to 60 centimetres in length and weighing 9 kilograms.
The Proserpine Rock Wallabies live in elevated rocky outcrops found scattered throughout the deciduous rainforest. Experts have found that often the wallabies perfer foothills near open woodland and during dry season they move closer to the forest edge to graze on grass.
The Proserpine Rock Wallaby is a shy, nocturnal creature that quickly retreats into rocky shelters when disturbed. Its light brown or grey fur provides excellent camouflage, making it difficult to spot.
Proserpine rock-wallabies are primary consumers that opportunistically feed on plants. On Hayman Island, they have previously competed for food with feral goats, which have been successfully eradicated.
Sadly, habitat loss, fragmentation, and introduced species like dogs, cats and toxic weeds are all major threats to its survival.
Conservation efforts for the Proserpine Rock Wallaby include restricting development in key habitats and installing road reflectors to reduce collisions. However, feral dogs remain a major threat, as pet ownership persists. Despite ongoing measures, the species' future remains uncertain as the Whitsundays continue to grow and prosper.
If you're fortunate enough to live near Proserpine rock-wallaby habitat, you can support species recovery by replacing toxic plants with native ones in your garden, preventing domestic animals from escaping your yard, staying wildlife-conscious while driving by adhering to speed limits, and protecting populations on private land through Nature Conservation Agreements and Nature Refuges.
Fast Fact: The Proserpine Rock-wallaby is social and lives in groups of around 20 or more.
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