Western Brush Wallaby (Notamacropus irma) lives in open savanna across Southwest Australia. It feeds on grasses and leaves. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Western Brush Wallaby
- The western brush wallaby feeds mainly in daylight, a habit that sets it apart from most macropods which are largely nocturnal. It is also active at dawn and dusk, giving it a crepuscular edge to its daytime routine. During the hottest part of the day it seeks shade in bushes or small thickets, and at night it rests alone or in pairs. This pattern allows it to exploit plant resources while avoiding the heat and many predators.
- Surveys recorded a sharp decline in western brush wallaby numbers, from ten individuals per 100 km² in 1970 to just one per 100 km² by 1990, highlighting the severe impact of introduced predators. The red fox especially preyed on young wallabies as soon as they left their mothers' pouches, driving the dramatic drop. This loss contrasted with the stable population of the larger western grey kangaroo over the same period.
- In the 1990s Kinnear introduced meat-and-egg baits laced with the toxin 1080 to control red foxes, a method described as environmentally friendly. The targeted baiting proved highly effective, curbing fox numbers and allowing the western brush wallaby to recover. This intervention, together with other conservation actions, was a key factor in the species' rebound to about 100 000 individuals.
- Recent counts estimate roughly 100 000 western brush wallabies across their range, signalling a strong rebound after years of decline. The species is now listed as Least Concern because it remains fairly widespread in the southwestern coastal region of Western Australia and the population is thought to be stable or increasing. This improvement follows intensive red-fox control programmes that have reduced the main predation pressure on the wallaby.
- Studies report that between 79 % and 88 % of the western brush wallaby's diet is browsing material, chiefly the leaves of low shrubs, while grasses and sedges supply only 3 % to 17 % and forbs 1 % to 7 %. It readily eats a wide range of plants, with Carpobrotus edulis, Cynodon dactylon and Nuytsia floribunda among the most common items recorded.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeSouthwest Australia
HabitatOpen savanna
DietGrasses and leaves
About the Western Brush Wallaby
In the sun-dappled underbrush of Western Australia's coastal scrublands, the Western Brush Wallaby navigates its realm with quiet purpose, its large brown eyes watchful and alert as it bounds effortlessly across the landscape on powerful hind legs. With each fluid leap, its soft grey-brown coat blends seamlessly into the dappled shade, allowing this unassuming marsupial to move unseen, a master of stealth and subtlety in its native habitat. As it pauses to nibble on a tender shoot or sip from a hidden water source, the wallaby's gentle nature and serene demeanor belie a deep resilience, forged in the face of a fragile and ever-changing environment.
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