BREAKING NEWS: In an astonishing discovery, researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) have confirmed that the endangered Kangaroo Island dunnart is not just a ground dweller but also an adept climber, utilizing trees for shelter. This groundbreaking finding, published in the latest issue of Pacific Conservation Biology, was revealed during the ongoing Kangaroo Island Nest Box Project, aimed at aiding wildlife recovery following the devastating 2019-2020 bushfires that ravaged the island.
The discovery came as a surprise when researchers found the dunnart resting in artificial nest boxes originally set up for pygmy-possums. “The last thing I expected to find in one of our pygmy-possum nest boxes some distance up in a mallee eucalypt was a dunnart. It was a wonderful surprise,” stated Peter Hammond from Kangaroo Island Research Station.
From 2022 to 2025, the research team recorded three separate sightings of the dunnart in these wooden boxes on a property in Karatta, located on western Kangaroo Island. In one remarkable instance, a dunnart was spotted resting on finely shredded wood, likely collected by the animal to create a nest. This behavior shifts previous understanding of the species and highlights its adaptability in the face of habitat loss.
The catastrophic fires destroyed nearly 98 percent of the dunnart’s known habitat, pushing the species to the brink of extinction. The survival of the Kangaroo Island dunnart depends on understanding its behavior and ecology, as well as the new risks posed by artificial nesting sites. While these nests offer shelter, they also introduce challenges such as increased predation and competition for space among species.
As the project continues, Associate Professor Sophie Petit emphasizes the importance of this discovery, noting, “It’s not just crucial for the dunnart, but it also highlights the necessity of tree hollows for biodiversity conservation.”
The Kangaroo Island Nest Box Project has been recognized as a finalist for the 2024 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for Innovation in Citizen Science. It engages local landholders and volunteers in building, installing, and monitoring hundreds of nest boxes across the fire-affected landscape, fostering community involvement in wildlife conservation.
Current research efforts are vital for understanding the intricate interactions among species that utilize these new nesting sites. The findings underline the resilience of wildlife in the face of environmental challenges and the critical role of citizen science in conservation efforts.
As scientists continue to monitor the use of these artificial nest boxes, they aim to unravel the complex dynamics occurring within the trees of Kangaroo Island. The implications of this discovery are profound, not just for the Kangaroo Island dunnart but for conservation strategies affecting numerous species in similar habitats.
For further details, the full study titled “Endangered Kangaroo Island dunnarts are partially arboreal and use pygmy-possum nest boxes” is available in Pacific Conservation Biology. The urgent need for conservation action cannot be understated as we learn more about the survival strategies of this endangered species.
