A bridled nail-tailed wallaby joey has joined the population at David Fleay's, the only place in the world where visitors can get a glimpse of them up close.
The population on display at David Fleay Wildlife Park, located at Burleigh Heads, aren't just adorable; they offer an opportunity to educate visitors on the work being done to protect them behind the scenes.
The bridled nail-tailed wallaby was thought to be extinct for more than 30 years until it was 'rediscovered' in central Queensland in 1973.
More than 50 years later, there's now an estimated 1,500 wallabies in Taunton National Park (Scientific); the only remaining naturally occurring wild population in Australia.
The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) is part of the Bridled Nail-tailed Wallaby Recovery Team, helping to protect and preserve this endangered species for future generations.
In Queensland, a translocated population was established in Avocet Nature Refuge in 2001, which has been successfully managed for the past 25 years, and three populations have been established in New South Wales – and all wallabies trace back to Taunton.
DETSI is highlighting the importance of wildlife conservation this Endangered Species Day (Friday 15 May).
Director of Gateway Visitor Centres Steve Briant said the first joey born at the wildlife park this year was already emerging from its mothers' pouch.
"We're excited to celebrate the first joey being born this year and we hope to welcome more joeys in the future," Mr Briant said.
"Our rangers share the wallaby conservation story with visitors who have probably never heard of this unique endangered species before."
Senior Conservation Officer John Augusteyn said this joey's birth was an opportunity to showcase the work being done to conserve one of Queensland's most endangered marsupials.
"Taunton National Park (Scientific), located in central Queensland, plays a vital role in protecting the bridled nail-tailed wallaby," Mr Augusteyn said.
"Our conservation efforts are underpinned by years of adaptive management and evidence-based decision-making, highlighting the importance of our ongoing research.
"By combining long-term management strategies and integrated predator control, we've seen remarkable results in the wild population at Taunton, demonstrating our commitment to protecting Queensland's endangered species."
