Proserpine rock-wallaby facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Proserpine rock-wallaby
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Petrogale
Species:	persephone
Proserpine rock-wallaby range

The Proserpine rock-wallaby (Petrogale persephone) is a special type of rock-wallaby. It lives only in a small part of Queensland, Australia. This area includes Conway National Park, Dryander National Park, Gloucester Island National Park, and near Airlie Beach. Its scientific name, Petrogale persephone, comes from an old Greek story about Persephone. This name was chosen because finding this wallaby felt like a lucky discovery, like spring arriving.

This wallaby is considered endangered. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever. It was first listed as endangered in 1992. Later, in 1999, it was again listed as 'Endangered' under an important Australian law. The IUCN also listed it as endangered in 2015.

What Does the Proserpine Rock-Wallaby Look Like?

The Proserpine rock-wallaby is mostly grey. It is a shy animal that eats grass. It usually stays close to rocky places for safety. These wallabies are the second largest in their genus, Petrogale. Males can weigh from 4.3 to 10.2 kilograms. Females are a bit smaller, weighing 3.5 to 8 kilograms.

You can tell them apart from other rock-wallabies by their larger size. They also have a longer tail with a white tip. Unlike some others, they don't have many fur markings. Scientists didn't know about this wallaby until 1977. Farmers near Proserpine had talked about a strange wallaby. A single one was finally caught, and it was officially described in 1982.

Where Do Proserpine Rock-Wallabies Live?

Proserpine rock-wallabies need rocky areas to survive. These include rock piles, cliffs, and sloping dry vine forests. These spots give them good access to food. They also help them hide from predators.

Large rock piles are safe places. They protect the wallabies from enemies. They also help keep them cool during hot, humid summers. When it's dry, the wallabies move to the edge of the vine forest. Here, they can find grasses to eat. This wallaby lives in an area where many people also live. It also competes with other, more common rock-wallaby species. This competition might be why it is endangered.

Proserpine Rock-Wallaby Life Cycle

Proserpine rock-wallabies usually breed about once a year. They have one baby at a time. The female's oestrus cycle is about 33-35 days. The baby grows inside the mother for 33-34 days. Soon after giving birth, the mother often mates again. However, the new embryo will pause its development. This is called embryonic diapause.

Baby wallabies are born very small and undeveloped. They stay in their mother's pouch for about 203 to 215 days. The mother continues to feed them milk. She keeps doing this for about 105 to 139 days after they leave the pouch. When the mother stops feeding the young, the next embryo starts to grow.

Male Proserpine rock-wallabies become ready to breed at about 24.8 to 25.2 months old. Females are ready between 20.5 and 25.1 months. In the wild, they usually live for 7 to 10 years. Sometimes, different types of rock-wallabies can breed together. This creates hybrid wallabies. These hybrids might not be as fertile, but they can still have babies.

How Do Proserpine Rock-Wallabies Behave?

Proserpine rock-wallabies are crepuscular. This means they are most active at dawn and dusk. During the day, they rest in their rocky shelters. When they look for food, they are very careful. They stay close to their rocky homes in case predators appear.

They are social animals. They often share shelters with 4 to 8 other wallabies. Sometimes, as many as 35 wallabies have been seen sharing one rock pile. If rock shelters are connected, wallabies will move between different groups. They have also been seen grazing in small groups of 2 to 6 individuals.

What Do Proserpine Rock-Wallabies Eat?

The Proserpine rock-wallaby is herbivorous. This means it eats only plants. They mainly eat fallen leaves. They also eat grasses, vines, ferns, and fungus. During dry times, they look for food in nearby grassy areas. Plants near rivers and beach scrub are very important during droughts. They will also eat lawn grasses and some garden plants. These include balsam and hibiscus flowers.

Who Are the Proserpine Rock-Wallaby's Predators?

Native predators of the Proserpine rock-wallaby include dingos, carpet pythons, and goannas. When these wallabies are moved to new places, they face new dangers. For example, on Hayman Island, many wallabies were found dead. Their wounds suggested attacks by eagles. The main suspects were the wedge-tailed eagle and the white-bellied sea eagle.

What Are the Threats to Proserpine Rock-Wallabies?

The Proserpine rock-wallaby faces many dangers. Their habitat is shrinking because of more towns and tourism. This makes them vulnerable to road accidents. They are also hunted by domestic dogs and cats.

Another long-term threat is climate change. This could affect where different Petrogale species live. This might lead to more breeding between the Proserpine and Unadorned rock-wallaby species. This mixing is a worry because the babies might not be able to have their own young. If fewer wallabies can breed, it puts more pressure on the species. They already have low genetic variety.

Their eating habits also make them vulnerable. They might eat toxic plants that people introduce. An example is the pink periwinkle, found in many gardens. The wallabies might not know the difference between safe plants and poisonous ones. Diseases are also a big threat. These include Toxoplasmosis and Hydatids. These diseases come from dogs and domestic or wild cats. Toxoplasmosis can cause blindness and death in wallabies. Hydatids have also caused deaths. Both are becoming bigger problems.

How Are Proserpine Rock-Wallabies Being Conserved?

Many things are being done to protect this species. Conservationists are buying protected land for them. They are also adding wildlife reflectors to roads where wallabies are often hit. This helps prevent accidents. They also control toxic plants near wallaby habitats.

The first goal is to watch known Proserpine rock-wallaby groups. They want to know where they are, if they are healthy, and how many there are. This involves mapping and monitoring 24 known sites. This helps them decide where to focus efforts. These efforts include controlling weeds, building fences, removing cattle, and protecting against big fires. They also work to protect wallaby habitat outside national parks. This is done through agreements with landowners and local councils. It's important to keep wallaby habitats connected. Currently, there's no protection for areas that link two wallaby habitats. This means they can get cut off from each other.

The second goal is to keep an eye on the wallaby population on Hayman Island. Wallabies raised in captivity were released there. The hope is that this island population will be safer from diseases, parasites, road accidents, new predators, and toxic plants. In 1998, 26 wallabies were released. Their numbers have since doubled. Between 2006 and 2008, 5 more were added. This was to help keep the group genetically healthy. Conservationists hope this island group can provide wallabies for future releases. They could also help replace groups on the mainland that have lost many members. The island population will continue to be monitored. A plan will be made if the island gets too crowded. This plan would decide if any extra animals could be moved back to the mainland.

Conservationists are also working to reduce diseases and accidental deaths. To lower road deaths, they suggest building 1.5-meter wide drainage pipes under new roads. This would let wallabies move safely between habitats. They also watch grassy areas in old quarries. This helps reduce the number of wallabies crossing roads. To stop the spread of disease and attacks from pets, they promote fencing near wallaby habitats. They also work to reduce the number of wild cats. Public education campaigns are also planned. These will teach people about diseases like hydatids. This will help raise awareness about the threats to the species.