Potoroo Protectors - Friends of Parks Queensland

Potoroo Protectors

South East Queensland, Australia

A close-up of a small, fluffy mammal foraging on the ground, surrounded by small pieces of bark and dirt.

Safeguarding the Long-Nosed Potoroo

The long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) is one of Queensland’s most remarkable – and most undervalued – threatened mammals. As a critical ecosystem engineer, it plays an essential role in soil turnover and fungal dispersal, helping maintain the health of our forests.

But potoroos face serious threats. Introduced predators like feral cats and foxes, along with inappropriate fire regimes, continue to restrict their distribution and keep population numbers low.

In recent years, several local populations across southern Queensland have disappeared, and the species is now absent from areas that were once considered strongholds. These quiet losses highlight how vulnerable potoroos are to sustained predation pressure and habitat change — and how urgently targeted conservation action is needed.

The Potoroo Protectors Project is proudly funded by the Queensland Government’s Threatened Species Recovery Action Grants program, allowing us to tackle these threats head-on while improving our understanding of where potoroos persist across their former range.

Project Updates

A group of hikers navigating a rocky stream in a lush, green forest setting.

A group of people observing a tree marked with carvings in a natural forest setting, with a camera trap attached to the tree.

A person holding a red Olympus Tough TG-6 camera displaying an image of a small animal in a natural setting, with a tree bark in the background.

Removing Predators

Early in the project, extensive camera surveys were conducted across southern Queensland to identify sites where potoroos and introduced predators overlapped. Springbrook emerged as a key site where both cats and potoroos where recorded in the same locations. Felixer grooming traps – a targeted predator control tool – were deployed adjacent to potoroo habitat.

The result:

Two feral cats and one fox removed
No further predator detections on cameras following control
Increased detections of potoroos across a larger proportion of the site

Bu focusing control efforts where predators and potoroos overlap, we demonstrated that this technology can effectively reduce threats to vulnerable populations.

Blurred image of a cat walking in low-light conditions.

A small marsupial foraging in a dark, grassy area near a wildlife camera in black and white.

Finding the Survivors

While predator control proved effective at Springbrook, surveys across other sites revealed fewer cats than expected. Rather than undertake pest control “for the sake of it”, the project has shifted to a critical next step: finding where potoroos are still surviving across South East Queensland.

This work is already delivering exciting discoveries:

Records of potoroos from a new location in Lockyer National Park
Discovery of potoroos thriving in an exotic pine plantation near Main Range – a habitat where they had not previously been recorded
Increased knowledge of distribution across key strongholds including D’Aguilar and Conondale National Parks

Understanding where potoroos persist is essential for:

Securing long-term recovery outcomes
Targeting future predator control
Designing potoroo-friendly fire management regimes
Informing land managers and conservation partners

Conservation, Together

Working together for a better future for the long-nosed potoroo.

Conservation success depends on collaboration. Throughout the project we have:

Engaged Traditional Owner and community groups in monitoring and land management activities
Involved local Friends of Parks groups in camera trapping and surveys
Conducted pest management in partnership with local landholders
Presented project findings at community events and conferences to raise awareness of potoroo conservation

By building local capacity and increasing awareness, we are strengthening long-term stewardship for this threatened species.

Two individuals kneeling beside a wildlife monitoring device in a forested area, surrounded by green foliage and fallen leaves.

Three individuals stand in a lush forested area surrounded by trees and ferns, with a generator placed on the ground.

A group of people gathered outdoors, listening to a presentation. One person is demonstrating equipment on the ground, with trees and a rustic shelter in the background.

A man in a light-coloured shirt and wide-brimmed hat gives thumbs up while standing in a lush Australian bush landscape with tall trees and grass.

A group of three small marsupials foraging on the forest floor at night, with two adults and one juvenile, surrounded by vegetation and tree trunks.

Future Directions

The next phase of the Potoroo Protectors Project will focus on:

Expanding surveys across the species’ historical range
Identifying additional sites where targeted predator control would benefit potoroos
Informing prescribed fire planning to maintain the mosaic of long-unburnt refuges and open foraging areas that potoroos depend on

By combining comprehensive monitoring, target threat mitigation, and community involvement, we are laying the groundwork for stronger, resilient potoroo populations across South East Queensland.

You are invited to come on this journey with us – read on for ways you can get involved.

You can help potoroos survive

With your support, we can continue finding, protecting, and managing the populations that remain – ensuring this unique species persists for generations to come.

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