Quenda Watch

Quendas are most commonly found in dense shrubland and in the understorey of adjacent forest. Their distribution around  the  Perth area is often linked to wetlands and woodland areas, and remnant bush blocks in rural areas. Mostly a nocturnal animal, the Quenda will sleep in a nest during the day (generally a slight bowl-shaped  hollow), constructed on the ground  under dense bush using grass, twigs and other plant material.

The use of  fire by Aborigines before European settlement created a mosaic of different habitats suitable for bandicoot habitation, however the burning and clearing of land for use by Europeans has resulted in limited habitat areas and frequently the loss of dense vegetation suitable for bandicoots. 

The Quenda is a solitary animal, coming into contact with others of  its  species usually only for mating. An adult may have a home range (a foraging zone, usually with the main nest site in the middle) of up to seven hectares, although in areas and times of abundant food sources home ranges may overlap substantially. Males have larger home ranges than females primarily because they are larger and therefore are more likely to move greater distances in search of food.

Observations  have  revealed  that upon meeting, Quendas often display feet thumping and tail waving, perhaps in some sort of ritual greeting or warning. Males will fight for territorial and breeding rights. Quendas will breed all year round  providing there is enough food available for them, and have a natural life expectancy of around five years. The young Quenda remains dependent on the mother until it is weaned at about three months old.

The major threat to the Quenda is loss of habitat due to the clearing of land for urban and rural use. Another major threat is predation by foxes, cats and dogs, and to a lesser extent displacement by other species such as rabbits through competition for space. Sixteen species and subspecies of bandicoot currently occur in Australia, with Western Australia playing host to six of these. One species, the Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus), has five subspecies which occur in isolated patches across the southern part of Australia. Quenda’ is the indigenous name given to the sub-species, Isoodon obesulus fusciventer, found only in the southwest of Western Australia.