Facebook Instagram

Numbat Country

Marradong is one of two remaining natural habitats for WA's endangered & adorable state emblem, the Numbat.

This is Numbat Country

Dryandra Woodlands is a vital conservation area spanning 28,000 hectares of native forest. The park was established by the Department of Parks & Wildlife to protect the Numbat & many other species that thrive there.

Numbat Facts

  • The Numbat has a long, sticky tongue that it uses to dip into narrow cavities in logs, leaf litter & in small holes in the ground to collect termites, which it eats exclusively.
  • Numbats eat up to 20,000 termites a day & don’t need to drink water because they get enough water from the termites they eat.
  • The Numbat is one of the few marsupials that are only active during the daytime.
  • Numbats breed in February & March, normally producing one litter a year.
  • Numbats sit up like meerkats to get a good look around, & if they sense danger.
  • Until European colonisation, Numbats were found in all mainland states & territories. Primarily due to the introduction of the fox & land clearing, the Numbat is now only found in two small pockets of WA – Dryandra & Perup.
  • Sadly, there are fewer than 1,000 Numbats left in the wild. Fewer than the number of orangutans in Sumatra or the Giant Pandas in Asia.

How to spot a Numbat:

  • The Dryandra Woodlands has several walking trails, but the Wandoo Trail is the best bet for spotting a Numbat.
  • Numbats feed in mid-morning to mid-afternoon & rise a little earlier in Summer.
  • Pay attention to hollow logs, loose soil, & anything else that looks like an ideal habitat for termites.
  • Numbats will also forage in open areas near the cover of shrubs. The trees offer some defence against birds of prey, but space is needed between the leaves for sunlight to reach the forest floor. This warmth activates the termites.
  • It goes without saying that if you do spot a Numbat, respect their space & do not attempt to touch or feed them.

Visiting Dryandra

The Dryandra Woodlands is a conservation area for over 24 mammal, 98 bird & 41 reptile species, including the Bilby, Woylies, Tammar Wallabies, Brushtail Possums, Tawny Frogmouths, Kangaroos & Wallabies, which are all regularly seen here.

There are several accommodation options available, including various campsites & well-furnished cabins. For more information on one of WA’s most significant conservation areas, visit Parks WA.

About the Region

Boddington

Williams

Cuballing

Wandering