What's Happening in Cannington, WA…

The Department of Environment and Conservation last month announced a successful response to its survey relating to quendas living in Western Australia. About 1,000 sites across the DEC Swan Region were noted by observers to contain quendas, with over 200 photographs submitted, most of which correctly identified the creature.

Quendas are a type of bandicoot with brown fur, short tails and ears and a long nose. Bandicoots are found all over Australia, but quendas are unique to south-western WA. The Department conducted the 2012 Quenda Survey in an attempt to gain some idea of the locations of families of quendas. The other cities around Australia are too noisy and dangerous to support populations of bandicoots but they have been seen in the gardens of suburban Perth.

Golf courses and bush areas near the city still hold small quantities of quendas. As early as May, sightings were confirmed in areas around Welshpool, Jandakot and Wattle Grove.

Quendas apparently are quite good at keeping the Australian bush in a healthy state. Their digging for fungi, bulbs and grubs helps to spread the kinds of fungi that support tree growth. The digging of the quendas also improves water penetration into the soil and helps keep the soil aerated.

The little bandicoots weigh a maximum of just 1.6 kilograms, and grow to approximately 30 cm long. Their small size makes them ideal prey for foxes, dogs and cats. This is in addition to the danger from motor vehicles.

Those interested can continue to check the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) website for updates and no doubt both the WWF and the Department are aware of the advantages of flyer printing to alert members of communities in areas in which the quendas are likely to be found.