The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve: Final

SOUTHERN BROWN BANDICOOT ISOODON OBESULUS
EPBC Act: Endangered TSC Act: Endangered Priority in Area: Nil as presumed locally
extinct
Southern brown bandicoot (juvenile).
Photo © M. Cooper/OEH
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Occurrence in the Survey Area
Presumed locally extinct. At JKCR, the southern brown
bandicoot is only known from skeletal remains found at the sooty
owl roost site in Nettle Cave (Morris et al. 1997). Remains were
found in the surface layers and it is presumed that the southern
brown bandicoot has been lost from JKCR since European
settlement. The loss of the southern brown bandicoot from
JKCR is in line with its disappearance from the majority of its
former range.
Regional Conservation Significance
Southern brown bandicoots are close to extinction in the region,
with only a few recent confirmed records from the Woronora Plateau. There is a small population in
northern Sydney, but otherwise it is not found until southern NSW around Eden. It formerly occurred
much more widely. They formerly occurred throughout the eastern part of NSW including the Greater
Blue Mountains and remains have been found in a sooty owl roost in Wollemi NP (OEH 2011a).
Southern brown bandicoot remains are also in surface deposits from a sooty owl roost cave in
Gippsland Victoria, from an area where it is thought to have become locally extinct since European
settlement (Bilney et al. 2010). As the southern brown bandicoot is likely extinct in JKCR it does not
contribute to the regional conservation of the species.
Threats in the Survey Area
Formerly - predation by feral cats and foxes, inappropriate fire regimes.
Management Considerations
No management required.
The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve