The Mainland Mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus hirsutus) Conservation Status One of Australia’s 3 most critically endangered animals (according to ANZECC – Australia and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council), it is considered to be extinct in the wild since 1900. Description The Mainland Mala is a rather shaggy, red-‐coated wallaby about 30 cm tall and weighing between 700 g and 2 kg. It constructs a short burrow for protection and shelter, open at both ends, with a ‘seat’ next to the entrance from which it plunges into the burrow if threatened. It utters a distinctive whistling note when running, particularly when hunted, resembling the syllable ‘ting’ rather quickly repeated. This habit caused it to be nick-‐named ‘whistler’. Also known in early days as the spinifex rat, due to its habit of hiding in spinifex. Distribution There were once 10,000,000 right across Australia in arid and semi-‐arid areas in WA, NT and SA. Today there are only about 400 left in wildlife parks and zoos. Diet The Mala feeds on a range of seed and plants, with insects providing an important source of nitrogen when conditions are poor. Threats Due to habitat destruction and predation by foxes the remaining animals only survive in protected areas and are confined to small populations in wildlife parks and zoos. In recent years the numbers were built up with a view to a mass release back into the wild in their original range. This mass release failed, and sadly all animals were taken by foxes. Recovery Plan Ongoing recovery actions include protection and enhancement of mala habitat; development of further conservation areas in WA and central Australia; captive breeding at the Alice Springs Desert Park, Western Plains Zoo and Monarto Zoological Park; and translocation of captive bred mala into areas of suitable predator-‐free habitat on the mainland. FAME helped establish a colony of Mala at Scotia Sanctuary in NSW, where the Mala had previously been extinct. References & More Information Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2010. Lagorchestes hirsutus hirsutus in Species Profile and Threats Database. http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat. Langford D. 1999. The Mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus) Recovery Plan. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/mala/index.html Apr-‐13 www.fame.org.au