One of Victoria’s most threatened marsupials is on the road to recovery after more than 70 per cent of its known habitat was destroyed during the Black Summer bushfires.

A monitoring program in north-east Victoria, as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s Bushfire Biodiversity Response and Recovery Program, has detected an increased number of Long-footed Potoroos in bushfire impacted areas of the Barry Mountains.

The project detected Potoroos at 53 sites across more than 300,000 hectares of public land. The monitoring is providing a better understanding of how the species is recovering post the fires.

Long-footed Potoroos are an endangered species found only in parts of north-east Victoria, far east Gippsland and south-eastern NSW.

As part of the project, an expanded fox baiting program is also underway in the Barry Mountains to support the Potoroos’ recovery.

The baiting program commenced in the Dandongadale, Buffalo River, and Buckland state forests in December, and will continue until mid-March. Baiting in parts of the Tea Tree Range state forests and the Alpine National Park will conclude by 30 June.

The monitoring project is being delivered in partnership with the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Taungurung Land and Waters Council and Parks Victoria.

It is funded by the Labor Government’s $62.2 million Bushfire Biodiversity Response and Recovery Program with support from the Australian Government’s Regional Fund for Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio

“The Black Summer bushfires had devastating effects on our wildlife and biodiversity – that’s why it’s so important we continue supporting their recovery so they can survive and thrive”

“This work helps us better understand the species’ distribution, density and health, to support its recovery following a major bushfire event.”

“The Andrews Labor Government has invested nearly $500 million towards protecting biodiversity and our natural environment since coming to government in 2014, the largest ever investment by a Victorian Government.”