Bandicoots
In Western Australian region you see this tiny marsupial mammal named
bandicoot. These are however, declared as endangered pieces by the
authority due to its waning population. The bandicoot looks like a fat
creature with equal-sized teeth and the male weighs bigger than female
bandicoot. It reaches up to 1500 grams while females weigh almost half
in difference at around 700 grams. The male body measures about 360 mm
long and the female 300 mm without including the tail and that is about
100 mm long more or less. This record differs depending on the area
where they are located.
There are studies that say bandicoots are solitary creatures but many
have found its presence in places where there is availability of food
like a backyard, you can find them eating crack corn or wheat at the
chicken pens once the chicken are sleeping.
Just like other animal creatures, male bandicoots fight sometimes when
they meet. Standing on hind legs, clawing one another on shoulders and
backs then twining around each other and throw the opponent over the
shoulder is the fighting style of these bandicoots. They could hardly
notice humans coming in closely to them while they are on fight so you
can enjoy watching over a fighting tournament.
Female bandicoots breed several times a year not just in one short
season alone. They produce tiny babies that are born after 12½ days
conception and this is found to be the shortest among mammals. Similar
with kangaroos, babies climb into mother’s pouch and later on came out
when they are big enough but the difference is bandicoot pouches are at
the back while kangaroos’ is at the top.
Oftentimes, bandicoots dig holes to find food using their three big toes
on front foot and two other undeveloped small toes. There are other
types of bandicoots aside from the common one that has color brown fur;
they are the golden bandicoot and the bilby. They are considered
endangered species and you can rarely find them in the forest now.
One advantage of bandicoots over its predator is his very keen sense of
hearing. Their ears are very soft and flexible and they can twitch them
towards any noise. On the other hand, they have poor eyesight in spite
of their bright dark eye.
Since bandicoots find their food while digging on the ground, they eat
several kinds of foods like worms, beetles and grubs. They also eat wild
mushrooms and fungus too but their favorites are peanuts and raisins.
Opposite to many other living creatures, bandicoots can survive for over
a week without water.
Threat To The Bandicoots And Steps For Their Conservation
In Western Australia, Department of Environment and Conservation has
started program to do away bandicoots’ predator because they are
endangered of becoming extinct. Foxes and feral cats haunted them. Aside
from this mentioned predator, road widening, housing and other urban
development displace the animals and were became more susceptible to
motor vehicles and with their natural enemies such as owl, hawks, snakes
and large lizard. Presently bandicoot population has increase in suburbs
with the presence of owls, hawks, snakes and large lizard as their
natural enemies.
Under the protection of NSW, bandicoots cannot be trapped or killed
without a license. People are encouraged to lock their pets at night
because the scent of dogs and cats may push the bandicoot to hide and
stop its usual activity.
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