PREVIEW

A hand-reared Rufous Bettong has made her first steps towards independence.

The rodent-like marsupial, indigenous to eastern Australia, has been under the care of the wildlife conservation organisation Aussie Ark since last October following her abandonment by her mother.

Operations Manager Dean Reid initially played the role of 'Dad', famously spending Christmas with Bonnie, involving her with baubles, tinsel, and decorating the tree.

Wildlife Ranger Riley Tydeman assumed responsibility for her care at the start of the New Year, and Bonnie has progressed remarkably. She became a favourite amongst visitors during the summer holiday Open Days at the Ark, where she enjoyed a cuddle and tickle as people interacted with her species for often the first time.

The Rufous Bettong is a lesser-known nocturnal marsupial that has suffered greatly in the wild due to predation by feral animals. They belong to an ancient lineage of the kangaroo family; they hop similarly and possess a pouch for their young, yet emit a bear-like growl when disturbed and carry nesting material in their monkey-like prehensile tails.

"These creatures are genuinely remarkable, and assisting in the hand-rearing of Bonnie has been a career highlight," Tydeman said.

Now that she is sufficiently large and robust to face the world, this signifies her transition into Aussie Ark's Species Recovery Unit and the organisation's Rufous Bettong breeding and rewilding scheme.

"This process can be quite delicate," Tydeman continued. "We initially introduce Bonnie to this environment with a playpen to ensure her safety and comfort as she becomes accustomed to her surroundings and begins interacting with other Bettongs."

Tydeman was thrilled with how quickly Bonnie adapted, displaying natural behaviours such as digging, foraging, and eating within moments.

Bonnie will use the playpen as a 'home base' as she gradually distances herself from humans and forms connections with her own kind. In the foreseeable future, she is expected to have joeys of her own.