Mammals

• 43mammal species listed for the region
• 31%of Victoria’s mammal diversity
• 16introduced mammals recorded

There are 43 mammal species listed for the region, equating to 31% of Victoria’s mammal diversity. The heathy and swampy vegetation of the Gippsland Plains supports mammal species such as bandicoots, potoroos, dunnarts, antechinus and pygmy possums. Key threatened mammal species include the white-footed dunnart and swamp antechinus.

The region is also fundamentally important for the genetically-significant Strzelecki koala. Tall wet and damp forests associated with the Strzelecki Ranges are home to mammals including the southern greater glider (nationally endangered) and mountain brushtail possum. Common mammal species seen right across the region include the black-tailed wallaby and the bare-nosed wombat. There are also 16 introduced mammals recorded for the region, including the European fox, rabbit and deer.

Candidate species for project focus

The plan suggests these threatened species as candidates for continued or new project focus:

• Nationally threatened (EPBC-listed): southern greater glider, long-nosed potoroo, southern brown bandicoot, swamp antechinus
• State threatened (FFG-listed): platypus

Ideas in the plan for projects that build on past efforts include:

Forest Wildlife – focus on a group of forest specialists including threatened species like the southern greater glider (nationally vulnerable), gang-gang cockatoo (nationally vulnerable), lace monitor (state vulnerable), powerful and barking owls, and the genetically significant Strzelecki koala to protect habitat that will collectively benefit these important species. Build on the work of the four-year Friends of Strzelecki Koala project (circa 2012-16) that saw biolinks identified and projects undertaken across the northern portions of the South Gippsland BPP area.

Source: South Gippsland Biodiversity Protection Plan (October 2024), section 3.3 Fauna and section 3.4 Threatened species; species figures from Victorian Biodiversity Atlas records cited in the plan.