Proserpine Rock Wallaby

Apperance
The Proserpine rock wallaby is a shy animal which quickly moves away over the rocks when it feels threatened. That is the one of the reasons we do not know much about them and they were not found until 1976 and only a few of them have been collected since then.

Weight
The Proserpine rock wallaby averages about 5 - 7 kg in weight.
Length
The species measures between 520mm witha maximum tail lenght of 680 mm.

Habitat
It usually is found in rocky outcrops in rainforests, surrounded by open woodland with a grass understory. The rock outcrops provide shelter and home sites and the grassy understory of the surrounding forest provides food. Rock wallabies are terrestrial, although they can climb trees with sloping trunks.

Eating and Diet Habits
 The proserpine rock wallaby's favorite food is grass.

Predators
The proserpine rock wallaby does not have many dangers since it can move fast and climb trees but it is still in danger to the biggest predator, HUMANS.

Breeding Habits
The Proserpine rock wallaby has a prolonged and even a continuous breeding season.

Locations
The proserpine rock wallaby occurs in a small number of rainforest habitats in a limited area in northeast Queensland, Australia, near Proserpine and on several islands in the Whitsunday group.
                               

Numbers
The number is unkown since they are a shy animal and are rarely seen and not found until 1976.

Problems

• The Proserpine rock wallaby is extremely vulnerable to habitat loss or disturbance.
• It is presently endangered by the rapid rate of development from the tourism and agricultural industries and from urban development.
• development has caused many colonies to be cut off from one another permanently.
• declined partly as a result of competition with the more widely distributed unadorned rock wallaby.
• there has been an increase in road kills.
• It is limited to a small area.

Solutions

• inform the public about threatened species issues and the Proserpine Rock wallaby.
• encourage habitat retention and restoration
• encourage the community-based collection of more information about the species and its habitat.
• ongoing habitat management.
• translocation the Proserpine rock wallaby to other sites.
• ongoing monitoring and biological studies.
• genetic assessment of all populations.
• support your local environment groups.
• raise money for the rehabilitation of sites for Proserpine Rock Wallaby.
• learn more about endangered animals, particularly those native to your area.
• be a responsible pet owner so they do not impact on Proserpine Rock wallaby or other wildlife.
• help in the eradication of foxes, cats and rabbits.
• protect remnant native vegetation under Heritage Agreement and by excluding stock .
• revegetate cleared land with indigenous plants.
• Reduce Road kills.